Posts

WATER TREATMENT: New Saco River Water Drinking Water Resource

13-July-2022

The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) has awarded Maine Water Company’s Saco River Drinking Water Resource Center the Envision Silver Award for sustainable infrastructure. The center treats and filters water from the Saco River in Biddeford, Maine so that 40,000 people in the communities of Biddeford, Saco, Old Orchard Beach and Pine Point have a reliable supply of high-quality drinking water that meets all state and federal drinking water standards.

This award recognizes the success of the project team in achieving sustainability goals in these areas:

— Leadership in sustainability
— Use of renewable energy
— Protecting surface and groundwater sources
— Wetland restorage
— Preparing for long-term adaptability

On behalf of Maine Water employees and the company, we are pleased to be the first project in New England to receive a Silver Level Award from ISI. When it became clear that our 1884 drinking water plant needed to be replaced, we were intentional about demonstrating our long-held commitment to the environment and sustainability. The Saco River Drinking Water Resource Center will be a source of high-quality drinking water for decades and generations to come and will do so responsibly. We thank our partners Hazen and Sawyer and MWH who shared our passion and commitment to the project and its sustainability.

View the full announcement in our Project Directory.

STORMWATER: Long Beach Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment Facility

14-April-2022

The Long Beach Municipal Urban Stormwater Treatment Project (LB-MUST) is a comprehensive and innovative regional project.

It will intercept and treat dry weather runoff, and first-flush storm flows generated within the City of Long Beach before discharging to the Los Angeles River and Estuary. The centralized downstream advanced treatment facility has a planned capacity capable of collecting and diverting approximately 41% of the City’s 12,200-acre watershed.

The LB-MUST is a prime example of a project in the Lower Los Angeles River Watershed that provides incentives for water agencies throughout each watershed to collaborate in managing the region’s water resources and setting regional priorities for water infrastructure and improving the region’s water self-reliance. This is a multi-benefit infrastructure project that achieves many essential goals such as:

— Advancing local hire and job training goals.

— Using nature-based solutions.

— Providing benefits to disadvantaged communities and economically distressed areas.

— Providing inspiration and education to other agencies and the community, such as delivering multi-benefit solutions to address community challenges.

Colin Averill, PE, Civil Engineer, City of Long Beach Public Works, Engineering Bureau: “Long Beach continues its commitment to improving water quality by delivering an innovative project to treat stormwater and urban runoff with capacity for a substantial portion of the City’s watershed. Sustainability extends beyond the project limits with water reuse, community, and environmental benefits that will support expanded greenspace along the LA River.”

View the full announcement in the Project Directory.

WATER DISTRIBUTION: Clearwell 9 Replacement Project

12-January-2022

The City of Evanston’s $20M Clearwell 9 Replacement Project includes the replacement of a five million gallon treated water storage reservoir with a new similarly sized facility, a new overflow, a new submersible pumping system, and site piping modifications. A parking lot was also converted into green space as part of this project.

The original Clearwell had been operational since 1934. After decades of serving the community, the project deteriorated, which prompted the city of Evanston to determine its long-term needs for treated water storage. A lifecycle cost analysis was undertaken to determine the best course of action for the facility: repair it or replace it. The study concluded that it would be most cost-effective to replace the Clearwell. In addition to a badly deteriorated roof, the characteristics of the existing pumps in the system were such that the bottom several feet of the reservoir could not be pumped out. This meant the city of Evanston was not able to utilize the full stored volume of water.

Many factors contributed to this project’s Envision award, including improving views, enhancing community aesthetics, adding new public space, engaging stakeholders, and protecting the natural world.

Learn more about the sustainability of this project in the Project Awards Directory.

WASTEWATER: Big Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility

21-June-2021


The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure (ISI) proudly announces the most recent recipient of the Envision Bronze award for sustainable infrastructure is the City of Westminster’s Big Dry Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility (BDCWWTF). This is the City of Westminster’s first Envision award.

The City of Westminster, located just north of Denver CO, owns and operates the BDCWWTF which is located in the northeastern most area of the City’s wastewater collection system. The BDCWWTF is designed for biochemical oxygen demand removal, nitrification and denitrification, and limited phosphorous removal. The facility has undergone several major upgrades over its 30-year operational life so far, with the most recent expansion in 2009. A few years ago, the City of Westminster commissioned a Solids Handling Master Plan (Plan) for the facility. This Plan led to the Solids Dewatering and Campus Wide Improvements project at the facility, which was the subject of the Envision verification. This project provides the City with new solids dewatering equipment and facilities, an improved central handling system, enhanced nutrient removal, biosolid beneficial use optimization at the City’s farm, operational optimization, and campus-wide improvements throughout and around the facility.

View the profile profile.