WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Brown and Caldwell (BC) is proud to announce Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District’s (Regional San) EchoWater is among ACEC’s 2024 Engineering Excellence Award (EEA) honorees and a contender for this year’s ASCE Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award.
As program advisor, BC assisted Regional San with the EchoWater Program Management Office (PMO) as part of the Brown and Caldwell + HDR Joint Venture. The PMO initiated process studies, commissioned a pilot plant, established its office, defined treatment processes and design/construction packages, completed environmental documentation, and received financing approval.
The accolades add to a growing body of industry-lauded achievements for the historic $1.7 billion EchoWater Program located in Northern California, including:
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- APWA Sacramento Chapter 2021 Project of the Year Award (Category: Environment)
- ASCE Sacramento Section 2020 Outstanding Water Award
- ACEC California 2022 Engineering Excellence Merit Award (Category: Water & Storm Water)
- APWA Sacramento Chapter 2021 Project of the Year award (Category: Environment)
- ASCE Sacramento Section 2020 Outstanding Water Award
- ACEC California 2022 Engineering Excellence Merit Award (Category: Water & Storm Water)
- CWEA Sacramento Area Section 2021 Engineering Achievement Award (Second Place)
The $46 million NST facility project has won multiple awards, including APWA Sacramento Chapter 2021 Project of the Year Award (Category: Environment). Photo courtesy of Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District.
The EEA, announced at ACEC’s Gala Dinner on May 15 in Washington, D.C., recognized EchoWater as a world-renown “preeminent engineering achievement” that lives up to its namesake by returning wastewater to a clean, natural state much like an echo coming back to its source. Specifically, the award noted the project’s treatment system that produces cleaner water for discharge to the Sacramento River and recycled water for reuse.
To realize these sustainability and compliance achievements, the program features the Biological Nutrient Removal Project, one of the largest in the country, which removes 99% of ammonia and 89% of the nitrogen. In addition, the innovative Nitrifying Sidestream Treatment facility converts ammonia to reduce chemical costs for odor control by $10,000 per day.
“EchoWater exemplifies Regional San’s ongoing dedication to the protection of public health and the environment, all the while keeping rates low.”
Regional San General Manager Christoph Dobson (in a previous report)
Begun in 2010, the EchoWater Program is one of the largest public works projects in Sacramento’s history. The massive undertaking comprised 20 projects successfully delivered on-time and under-budget in 2023.
“We are proud to partner with Regional San on this monumental project,” Brown and Caldwell Program Advisor Graham Calciano said. “Regional San is a leader in environmental stewardship and this program takes sustainability and resiliency to the next level for generations to come. This award as well as the ASCE honor is a testament to their vision.”
The ASCE Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award winner will be announced Oct. 8 at the organization’s OPAL Gala.
Other Award-Winning EchoWater Projects
Biological Nutrient Removal
- Addy Awards with the Sacramento Chapter of the American Advertising Federation 2021 BNR Videtorial Gold Award
- 2022 American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists Grand Prize (Category: Design)
- 2022 American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists 50th anniversary of the 1972 Clean Water Act Award
Partners include:
- Program Management: BC:HDR JV and Regional San
- Designer: Black and Veatch
- Construction Management: Jacobs, Psomas; BC; HDR; CMID
- Contractor: Dragados USA
Return Activated Sludge Pumping
- ASCE Sacramento Section 2021 Outstanding Public Works Project
- 2020 APWA Sacramento Section Project of the Year award (Category: Environment)
Partners include:
- Program Management: BC:HDR JV and Regional San
- Designer: Carollo
- Construction Management: Parsons Environment and Infrastructure
- Contractor: Auburn Constructors
Effluent Valve Replacement / Effluent System Reliability
- CMAA NorCal 2020 Project Achievement Award Public Works under $10 million
- ASCE Sacramento Section 2019 Outstanding Small Project of the Year Award
- 2019 APWA Project of the Year Award
Partners include:
- Program Management BC:HDR JV and Regional San
- Designer: BC:HDR JV
- Construction Management: BC:HDR JV
- Contractor: Kiewit Infrastructure West Co.
Site Preparation Project
- 2018 ACEC Engineering Excellence Merit Award, State of California
Partners include:
- Program Management BC:HDR JV and Regional San
- Designer: Kennedy Jenks
- Construction Management: BC:HDR JV
- Contractor: C. Overaa & Co.
EchoWater/Program Management Office
- 2015-2020 Safety Leadership Award, National Safety Council
- 2016 Outstanding Project EIR Award, Association of Environmental Professionals
Partners include:
- Program Management BC:HDR JV and Regional San
- Designer: BC:HDR JV and Regional San
- Construction Management: CMID
- Contractor: Diede Construction
Advance Wastewater Treatment Pilot Plant
- 2013 CWEA Research Achievement Award
- 2013 AAEES Research Honor Award, State of California
- 2014 WERF Award for Excellence in Innovation
Partners include:
- Program Management BC:HDR JV and Regional San
- Designer: BC
- Construction Management: BC
- Contractor: Auburn Constructors Inc.