Atlanta DWM moves forward with project to increase sewer capacity and mitigate flooding

Feb 12, 2024

ATLANTA – The City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management (DWM) has reached a significant milestone to deliver on a decade-long effort to remedy combined sewer overflows and localized flooding in southeast Atlanta. In an effort to meet the requirements of an EPA-issued Consent Decree, DWM has contracted a multidisciplinary team to design and construct solutions that help control surface water, detain stormwater flows to the combined sewer system, and provide temporary underground storage to protect public health and property.

Anticipated to begin the design phase in early 2024, the Custer Avenue Multi-Benefit Capacity Relief Project is the linchpin of sewer infrastructure improvements for the broader southeast Atlanta neighborhoods in the Custer Avenue sub-basin of the larger Intrenchment Creek Basin. According to DWM Commissioner Mikita K. Browning, this project leverages partnerships to protect, restore, and enhance our watersheds.

“This critical flooding infrastructure project aligns with our mission to provide our customers with sustainable stormwater management, integrated planning, and mitigation of the adverse impacts of flooding,” Browning said.

A joint venture of Ruby-Collins, Inc. and BenchMark Management, supported by engineer of record Brown and Caldwell, will design and build a large underground “capture and release” structure to temporarily store combined sewer overflows during wet weather events. The underground structure will gradually release overflows back to the collection system for treatment when capacity is available. New facilities include a large capacity storage vault, storm drain infrastructure, and added greenspace. The capture and release infrastructure will be housed underground at a new public open space with recreational amenities in the Peoplestown neighborhood, a low-lying area where some homes have historically been impacted by stormwater.

“We are proud to have been selected by the City of Atlanta for the Custer Avenue Multi-Benefit Capacity Relief Project,” said BenchMark President Eskender Abebe. “This project will add to the City’s long-term sustainability and resiliency plan. We look forward to working with our partners Ruby-Collins and Brown and Caldwell to deliver a first-class project to the City of Atlanta and its residents.”

The greenspace will collect and temporarily store two million gallons of surface water runoff with release to the storage vault during wet weather events. During dry weather, the greenspace will serve as a park amenity that will be designed with input from impacted residents in partnership with City officials.

Community outreach and involvement from residents and stakeholders to gain support and address questions relating to construction activities is a key component to this project. The outreach efforts have resulted in community support for this project.

“We applaud the Department of Watershed Management’s community-centered approach to alleviating sewer overflows and localized flooding,” said Brown and Caldwell Project Executive Erin Williams. “As climate change is likely to increase the frequency and severity of storm events, this project will play a vital role in safeguarding the communities we serve.”

###About Ruby-Collins

Ruby-Collins, Inc. (RC) is an employee-owned general contractor headquartered in Georgia that performs construction services for a wide variety of clients throughout the United States. RC has a principal location in Atlanta, Georgia and strategically placed regional offices on the southern coast of Georgia and the northern coast of South Carolina. Ruby-Collins has been a highly respected member of the construction industry for more than 50 years, completing over $2 billion in water and wastewater contracts, including the construction of water and wastewater treatment facilities, water, sewer, and stormwater pipelines, pump stations, pipe rehabilitation, tunnels, and other related heavy civil work. The company continues to be a top leader in the industry and has been named a top contractor in the Southeast by Engineering News Record (ENR) for eight years in a row.

BenchMark Management

BenchMark Management (BenchMark) is an award-winning engineering, construction management, and program management services firm, specializing in municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater projects. The firm is a certified Minority Business Enterprise/Female Business Enterprise (MBE/FBE) and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) with GDOT. Founded in 2003, BenchMark has grown from two full time employees to more than 45 employees and is confident in its ability to provide excellent service through the right people, the right expertise and trusted results.

US Water Alliance convenes multidisciplinary team to develop greenhouse gas emission guidance for water utilities

Jan 29, 2024

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — The US Water Alliance (the Alliance) and The Water Research Foundation (WRF) have assembled a team of utilities, researchers, and technical experts to establish industry‐wide guidance and tools to help improve greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction efforts at water and wastewater utilities.

Considering increasing pressure from the global community to reduce GHG emissions (e.g., via the Paris Agreement) and the frequency of extreme climate events, the water sector has increased its efforts in this area.

As utilities work to mitigate GHG emissions, conducting a GHG emissions inventory is the first step to understanding current emission sources. Although many GHG estimation methodologies exist, there is no utility-facing industry-wide framework or easy‐to‐use resource that provides water utilities with practical guidance on which emissions are essential to address and what the best available methods are for assessing them over the lifecycle of capital and operational emissions.

Funded by WRF’s Research Priority Program along with utility partners, WRF Project 5188 – Establishing Industry‐Wide Guidance for Water Utility Life Cycle Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories – aims to create a utility‐facing guidance document and a replicable accounting tool that captures worldwide best practices for estimating direct and indirect GHG emissions at utilities using a lifecycle approach. The guide will provide context for which GHG emissions are vital to include as well as areas of emissions with higher and lower certainty estimates to scale GHG reduction efforts across utilities of all sizes and geographies.

“Understanding current greenhouse gas emission sources is a vital step for water and wastewater utilities working to mitigate climate change impacts,” said Dr. Peter Grevatt, CEO of The Water Research Foundation. “We are excited to work with the US Water Alliance’s strong cross-sector team to develop international, industry-wide consensus around GHG accounting and methodologies.”

As well as WRF funding, the approximately $600,000 project includes in-kind contributions from numerous consultancy firms, associations, and more than a dozen supporting utilities.

Principal Investigator and US Water Alliance Director of Climate Action David Ponder commented on the formation of the team:

“Our team of leading researchers and practitioners will allow for international collaboration and consensus-building with a commitment towards long-term implementation support through the Alliance network and our partners, as well as seeking to scale what works. Furthermore, we bring the ability to divide the work among different GHG subject matter expert teams to efficiently execute tasks, delivering maximum value and impact for the international water community.”

Following a 21-month research process since October 2023, the guidance document and GHG emissions accounting tool will be made publicly available for industry dissemination. Additionally, peer-reviewed articles and conference workshops will be key to educating the water sector on estimating direct and indirect utility GHG emissions.

“This project is a unique opportunity to bring the global water community together, gain consensus, and standardize GHG accounting for water utilities so everyone follows the science and best practices, allowing us to accurately estimate emissions and more effectively plan and take climate action,” said Brown and Caldwell’s Dr. John Willis, an authority on utility GHG emissions and a contributing researcher.

###

About The US Water Alliance

The US Water Alliance is a national membership organization advancing policies and programs to secure a sustainable One Water future for all. We believe that all water has value. Life’s most precious resource must be managed sustainably and inclusively to build strong economies, vibrant communities, and healthy environments. For more information, visit www.uswateralliance.org.

About The Water Research Foundation

The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is the leading research organization advancing the science of all water to meet the evolving needs of its subscribers and the water sector. WRF is a nonprofit, educational organization that funds, manages, and publishes research on the technology, operation, and management of drinking water, wastewater, reuse, and stormwater systems—all in pursuit of ensuring water quality and improving water services to the public. For more information, visit www.waterrf.org

Brown and Caldwell partners with The Water Research Foundation and utilities to advance DE&I in the water sector

Dec 11, 2023

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — The Water Research Foundation (WRF) is providing $125,000 in funding to Brown and Caldwell to develop scalable diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) best practices for water sector organizations.

DE&I is a critical and growing need in the water sector as utilities measure the health and well-being of their organizations and workforce while rethinking how they engage with their communities.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates 8.2 percent of existing water operators will need to be replaced annually between 2016 and 2026 (GAO 2018). Additionally, the water sector tends to be older and lacking diversity, being 85% male, two-thirds white, and having a low share of black and Asian workers employed relative to the national average (Kane & Tomer 2018). In 2018, the median age of water employees was 48, with 30-50 percent of workers eligible to retire in the next 5-10 years (Dickerson & Butler 2018). The data shows the water sector needs to take immediate action to fill the labor gap while ensuring equitable access to opportunities and training.

Presently, there is little guidance to assist water sector organizations with the completion of DE&I assessments and integration of DE&I considerations into many facets of their organization – including recruiting, career progression, project prioritization, community outreach, and training.

Led by Brown and Caldwell in partnership with several utilities, WRF Project 5186 will provide best practices for the water industry leaders in completing DE&I assessments, increasing awareness of career opportunities across diverse communities, and implementing DE&I objectives in workforce development to attract, train, and retain water workforce talent.

Principal Investigator and Brown and Caldwell Drinking Water Area Practice Lead Katie Porter commented on the importance of advancing DE&I efforts in the water sector:

“Water utilities are pivotal to community well-being, yet they face the dual challenge of addressing historical inequities and preparing for a retiring workforce. Statistics indicate an urgent need for action to address current work-force shortages and increase diversity in the sector. This study recognizes the imperative of filling this labor gap while creating equitable opportunities and training for all.”

Following an 18-month research process, the study will culminate in a comprehensive report that will serve as a valuable resource for water sector organizations seeking to enhance their DE&I efforts and create a more inclusive and equitable workforce.

The report will include industry-wide DE&I assessment survey results to gauge the current state. It will consist of a collection of existing DE&I tools and best practices accompanied by case studies from geographically diverse utilities with varying water challenges representing a range of DE&I journeys from infancy to highly structured. Furthermore, the report will provide recommendations for scaling practices and actions depending on where a utility is on the DE&I maturity curve and how to embed DE&I throughout operations.

Once complete, the report will be disseminated to the water sector via conference presentations, webinars, fact sheets, and various outreach materials.

###

About The Water Research Foundation

###

Preventing the migration of microplastics

Dec 8, 2023

How to attract private sector funding for your projects

Dec 6, 2023

A new way to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of I/I reduction

Dec 1, 2023

Diversity, equity, and inclusion in the water sector today

Nov 22, 2023

Nashville Metro Water Services Optimizes Central Water Reclamation Facility

Nov 13, 2023

Nashville Metro Water Services has upgraded its Central Water Reclamation Facility to treat an additional 100 million gallons per day of peak wet weather flow while also making it a safer, more reliable, and energy-efficient community asset. To learn more about the upgraded facility and how it plays a vital role in the health and safety of the community, visit www.cleanwaternashville.org

Drone footage courtesy of Multivista and Christian Fischer of Fischer Studios.

New water projects receive $28.97M federal cash boost to improve water reliability in the West

Nov 7, 2023

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — The Bureau of Reclamation has announced it will provide $28.97 million in financial aid for 31 potential new water reuse and desalination projects to help create new water supply sources less vulnerable to drought and climate change. The funding will help prepare feasibility studies and undertake planning efforts such as preliminary project design and environmental compliance activities.

In a press release, Bureau of Reclamation Deputy Commissioner David Palumbo commented:

“These projects currently under development will supplement existing freshwater supplies in urban and agricultural areas in the Western United States.”

Funding for these planning and design activities is intended to assist in developing potential new construction projects that could be carried out under the Desalination Construction Program, the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Program, and the Large-Scale Water Recycling Program.

This financial support is part of $1 billion in WaterSMART grants funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support collaborative efforts to plan and implement actions to increase water supply reliability, including investments to modernize infrastructure.

Of the 31 projects selected, Brown and Caldwell assisted clients in identifying funding mechanisms and developing successful grant applications for the following projects:

City of Boise Recycled Water Program – funding: $1M
The City of Boise, Idaho, will develop a feasibility study as well as other planning, preliminary design, and environmental compliance activities for the City of Boise Recycled Water Program.

Mesa Water District, Local Groundwater Supply Improvement Project – funding: $250,000
Mesa Water District (Mesa Water®), located in Costa Mesa, California, and the only water district in Orange County to provide 100% local water, will conduct a feasibility study for a potential new brackish groundwater desalination facility that would enhance water supply in the region.

Santa Clara Valley Water District, San Jose-Santa Clara Purified Water Program Feasibility Study – funding: $381,249
The Santa Clara Valley Water District, located near San Jose, California, will assess the feasibility of constructing a new advanced water purification facility in San Jose for potable reuse through groundwater recharge, raw water augmentation, and/or treated water augmentation.

Santa Clara Valley Water District, South County Water Reuse Program Feasibility Study – funding: $299,180
The Santa Clara Valley Water District will assess the feasibility of implementing several treatment and pipeline reuse projects that were identified in the South County Recycled Water Master Plan.

“Water recycling and diversifying local water supply portfolios is essential in stretching the Western United States’ limited supplies. We congratulate the City of Boise, Mesa Water, and Santa Clara Valley Water District for their proactive steps in supplementing existing fresh water supplies and working toward securing a resilient water future for their communities.”

Brown and Caldwell Senior Director of Strategic Funding Seema Chavan

Further details on the selected projects and more information on the funding categories can be found on Reclamation’s WaterSMART program webpage.

Discussing petrochemical wastewater with Brown and Caldwell’s Everett Gill

Oct 17, 2023

Brown and Caldwell VP honored with lifetime achievement award

Oct 12, 2023

Brown and Caldwell’s Houston Flippin honored with W. Wesley Eckenfelder Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award

Oct 3, 2023

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Brown and Caldwell proudly announce the Water Environment Federation (WEF) has awarded vice president and industrial water expert Houston Flippin the prestigious W. Wesley Eckenfelder Industrial Water Quality Lifetime Achievement Award.

The award recognizes and honors an individual who has made substantial and measurable engineering, scientific, and/or operations contributions to managing or treating industrial wastes to improve water quality. A renowned pioneer of industrial wastewater management, WEF created the award in 2007 to honor the late W. Wesley Eckenfelder Jr.

Eckenfelder was a prolific writer, influencing countless engineers through his many textbooks, hundreds of journal articles, and courses. One such engineer is Flippin, who achieved a master’s degree in environmental and water resource engineering and a bachelor’s in civil and environmental engineering from Vanderbilt University under the tutelage of Eckenfelder.

The impact Eckenfelder has had on Flippin is profound. After serving as a research assistant to Eckenfelder at Vanderbilt in 1983, Flippin has dedicated his career to enhancing the environment through the design, construction, and optimization of industrial water and wastewater treatment facilities. Since joining Brown and Caldwell in 1984, he has evaluated and developed process design and operating guidelines for hundreds of treatment facilities encompassing food and beverage, chemical, pharmaceutical and nutrition, refinery and renewable fuels, mining, and many more industries. His experience and technical acumen have been pivotal in helping industrial clients achieve water treatment cost savings while maintaining effluent and emissions compliance.

Project highlights include the Bush Brothers & Company’s (Bush’s® Best Baked Beans) award-winning Process Water Reclamation Facility. As technical lead, Flippin directed the process design of the 2.1 million gallons per day facility that treats production process water to be used for utility water makeup or irrigation of adjacent pasturelands on which cattle are raised by Bush Brothers & Company-owned agriculture.

Furthermore, Flippin has continued Eckenfelder’s legacy by mentoring aspiring engineers and lending his expertise to improve water quality through engineering and scientific advancements in treating industrial waters. He regularly leads educational workshops and authors thought leadership articles focused on bringing new information and pioneering solutions to market.

Brown and Caldwell CEO Rich D’Amato commented on the esteemed recognition:

“I am thrilled that WEF has awarded Houston’s decades of dedication and contributions to the field of industrial water treatment. Spanning four decades, he has continuously solved various highly technical, complex industrial water challenges to achieve the best possible outcomes for our clients and communities. His selfless approach to innovation and mentoring has tremendously impacted the industry and our people. All at Brown and Caldwell are immensely proud of Houston for this well-earned accolade.”

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Flippin is a licensed professional engineer in 16 states and a board-certified environmental engineer.