WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Brown and Caldwell (BC) is proud to announce Sacramento Area Sewer District’s (SacSewer) EchoWater received the 2024 ASCE Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Silver Award presented on January 16, 2025 during the OPAL Gala in San Diego.

As program advisor, BC assisted SacSewer 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:

• • APWA Sacramento Chapter 2021 Project of the Year Award (Category: Environment)
  • ACEC National 2024 Engineering Excellence Award
  • 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 Area Sewer District.

ASCE recognized EchoWater as a “tribute to state-of-the-art engineering skills employed in the project, one that provides considerable contributions to the city of Sacrament, technical advancements, and inspiration to the civil engineering profession.”

The EchoWater project 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.

“The EchoWater Project exemplifies our commitment to protection of public health and the environment and sets a high standard for excellence in utility management and environmental sustainability. This award reflects the hard work of our team and partners who were dedicated to bringing this project to life.”
SacSewer General Manager Christoph Dobson

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 SacSewer on this monumental project,” Brown and Caldwell Program Advisor Graham Calciano said. “SacSewer 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.”

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 SacSewer
• 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 SacSewer
• 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 SacSewer
• 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 SacSewer
• 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 SacSewer
• Designer: BC:HDR JV and SacSewer
• 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 SacSewer
• Designer: BC
• Construction Management: BC
• Contractor: Auburn Constructors Inc.