Brown and Caldwell appoints Stigers as design chief engineer

Dec 6, 2022

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Brown and Caldwell today announces Vice President Tracy Stigers has been appointed as design chief engineer in recognition of four decades of exceptional technical leadership and client service. She is the first woman in the firm’s 75-year history to hold the esteemed title.

Stigers will lead all design from a technical and delivery expertise perspective across all of Brown and Caldwell’s design initiatives, implementing innovation, quality control, and project delivery throughout North America and the Pacific.

Since joining the leading environmental engineering and construction services firm in 1980, Stigers has progressed from junior engineer to one of its top technical and delivery experts. She has vast experience in the design and construction of large-scale wastewater conveyance, treatment, and reuse facilities, including serving as project manager on the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s $2.3 billion Biosolids Digester Facilities Project, the largest value design job in Brown and Caldwell’s history.

Early in her career, Stigers worked alongside and was mentored by company co-founder Dave Caldwell, helping shape its tradition of solving the most challenging water and environmental challenges. Her dedication to upholding Brown and Caldwell’s reputation for project excellence and innovation was commended by CEO Rich D’Amato:

“Tracy is the epitome of quality, commitment, and technical prowess. Her leadership, knowledge, and legacy of delivering solutions to clients perfectly embody our heritage and is a shining example for tomorrow’s aspiring engineering leaders.”

Throughout her career, Stigers has held numerous leadership roles at industry organizations, including sitting on the board of trustees for the Water Environment Federation and the California Water Environment Association. She is a current member of the Clarkson University Engineering Advisory Council.

Derry Township, Pennsylvania, takes landmark step toward organics-to-energy vision

Nov 22, 2022

HERSHEY, Pa. — The Derry Township Municipal Authority (DTMA) has taken a significant step on its journey toward energy and nutrient recovery from organic waste at its Clearwater Road Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF).

Ongoing upgrades at the five million gallons per day WWTF, part of a $12 million biosolids facility improvements program, will expand capacity and increase energy efficiency, boosting the plant’s sustainability.

Already accepting organic waste from industrial and municipal sources, and with plans to receive future additional waste streams, the Authority has a long-term vision to recover and reuse resources, reduce landfill waste, and generate alternate revenue sources to lessen the financial burden to customers.

In a landmark step, the Authority has purchased Ecoremedy®’s Fluid Lift Gasification™ (FLG) technology. The full-scale biosolids drying and gasification process is the world’s most advanced platform for simultaneous gasification and nutrient and energy recovery from industrial residuals and municipal biosolids. A major advantage of the state-of-the-art system is its ability to reduce or eliminate emerging contaminants, such as PFAS.

“This major investment aligns with our mission to provide a cost-effective public service to protect and enhance the water environment and quality of life for our community,” said DTMA Executive Director William Rehkop. “By implementing self-sustaining facility improvements and expanding our hauled waste program, the Authority has generated alternate revenue sources which have significantly subsidized operation and maintenance costs to benefit our customers.”

Leading environmental engineering and construction services firm Brown and Caldwell is providing construction management, design services, and permitting to accommodate the new system and development of a biosolids receiving facility at the plant. Once operational, the FLG system will process higher amounts of biosolids into renewable thermal energy, biochar, and concentrated minerals, thus keeping biosolids out of landfill and creating a sustainable fuel source.

As local manufacturer’s representative, Kappe Associates, Inc. played a pivotal role in developing the system’s scope, performance, throughput, and capabilities.

“We congratulate DTMA for their visionary approach to recovering resources and reducing environmental impacts,” said Brown and Caldwell Project Manager Colin O’Brien. “Our team is honored to help transform the facility and position DTMA as a waste-to-energy leader at a time when our industry seeks innovative ways to manage biosolids.”

South Adams County Water and Sanitation District takes proactive step to treat PFAS, safeguard water supplies

Nov 15, 2022

DENVER, Colo. — The South Adams County Water and Sanitation District (District) is enhancing its water treatment process to meet EPA Health Advisory Levels (HALs) for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water supplies.

Deemed “forever chemicals,” PFAS is a group of human-made chemicals used in many applications, including stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints, and firefighting foams. PFAS are resistant to grease, oil, water, and heat and may enter water supplies from landfills, the use of firefighting foam (e.g., at airports, fire training facilities, petroleum fires, etc.), industrial sites, and wastewater treatment plant discharge.

The District’s water supply, serving over 67,000 residents in Commerce City and parts of unincorporated Adams County, comes primarily from 13 groundwater supply wells. As it continues to meet all federal and state drinking water requirements, the District has been proactively pursuing PFAS reduction strategies since it first discovered a low-level presence in its water supply through voluntary testing in 2018. Upon discovery, the District stopped drawing from its most impacted wells and has been purchasing additional treated water to blend into its supply to reduce PFAS levels along with optimizing use of their existing granular activated carbon treatment system.

Recently, the EPA lowered its interim lifetime HAL for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) from 70 parts per trillion (ppt) combined to 0.004 ppt for PFOA and 0.02 ppt for PFOS.

While the District maintains test levels below 70 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, the new HALs are set so low that it is not yet possible to detect the presence of the compounds at these levels scientifically.

“Ever since the District first began voluntarily testing for PFAS, we have been monitoring for these compounds and working to reduce their impact on our customers. The EPA has moved the goalposts, and we are taking steps to reduce the presence of PFAS even further. We are committed to finding long-term, sustainable solutions to offer our community high-quality drinking water.”

District Manager Abel Moreno

To tackle the challenge, the District has hired leading environmental and construction services firm Brown and Caldwell to design a new 18 million gallons per day (MGD) ion exchange (IX) process at its Klein Water Treatment Facility. IX treatment is currently the most effective technology in removing PFAS/PFOA, consisting of a highly porous resin that acts as a powerful magnet to adsorb and hold onto the substances. The new system at the Klein facility will consist of seven IX treatment trains, a 375,000-gallon equalization tank, and six vertical turbine pumps to feed the IX trains from the District’s 13 groundwater supply wells.

Furthermore, nine 5-micron cartridge filters will be installed to remove particulate matter in the water before reaching the IX trains, thus increasing the efficacy of the treatment process.

“We commend the District for taking this important step to achieve a cost-effective, reliable, and safe water future,” said Brown and Caldwell Client Manager and Process Lead Laurie Sullivan. “PFAS is a nationwide challenge and the District is working diligently to put numerous measures in place to monitor and treat contaminants to maintain regulatory compliance.”

Scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, the new IX treatment facility will provide a peak combined capacity of 26 MGD.

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About South Adams County Water and Sanitation District

The South Adams County Water and Sanitation District is a special district providing water and sanitary sewer service to over 67,000 residents in Commerce City and parts of unincorporated Adams County. For more information about the District, please visit www.sacwsd.org

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EPA set to propose drinking water standard for PFAS chemicals

Nov 1, 2022

Brown and Caldwell welcomes senior program director to Southern California

Nov 1, 2022

LOS ANGELES — Leading environmental engineering and construction services firm Brown and Caldwell today announces highly experienced Diala Dandach has joined the company as senior director of program management. Dandach’s hiring will be pivotal in assisting clients to deliver multi-year recycled water programs in Southern California.

With 20 years of experience as a consultant, contractor, and owner, Dandach has overseen numerous multibillion-dollar capital improvement programs from planning through operation. She has directed some of the most technically-complex water and environmental programs in the U.S., encompassing advanced wastewater treatment, water treatment, nutrient removal, and biosolids management.

In her new role, Dandach will augment Brown and Caldwell’s 75-year history of delivering transformative programs to meet resiliency, consent order, regulatory, and growth-driven capital improvements. She will direct a team of industry-leading practitioners and partner with clients to bring generationally significant visions to reality through a portfolio of planning, design, construction, construction management, and commissioning services.

“I am delighted to welcome a leader of Diala’s stature to our growing Southern California business. Her extensive construction background and knowledge of multiple delivery methods will be key to optimizing program management and helping our clients keep communities and the environment safe.”

Brown and Caldwell Senior Vice President Dan Bunce

Dandach is a certified Program Management Professional and Design-Build Professional.

Brown and Caldwell’s Sarah Reeves elected WEF Fellow

Oct 24, 2022

DENVER, Colo. — Leading environmental engineering and construction services firm Brown and Caldwell today announced Vice President Sarah Reeves has been made a Fellow of the Water Environment Federation (WEF).

WEF is a not-for-profit association that provides technical education and training for thousands of water quality professionals worldwide who clean water and return it safely to the environment. The prestigious, peer-nominated Fellow designation recognizes members’ achievements, stature, and contributions to the preservation and enhancement of the water profession.

With over 25 years of experience, Denver-based Reeves has amassed specific expertise in water quality policy and regulation, focused on developing and driving stakeholder involvement to influence solutions for community and environmental benefit.

As director of treatability services at Brown and Caldwell, she works with the firm’s technical experts and industry innovators to identify, test at a bench- and pilot-scale, and implement solutions to help municipalities, private industry, and government agencies overcome the most complex water-related challenges.

Furthermore, she leads the Colorado Monitoring Framework, a non-profit organization consisting of industry leaders who collaborate to tackle statewide water quality issues, including nutrient removal and contaminants of concern, such as PFAS.

Passionate about giving back to the industry, Reeves has been involved with WEF for 24 years. She has been chair and vice chair of the federation’s Program Committee and is a member of its WEFTEC Advisory and Operator Scholarship Committees. She is a co-chair of the 2023 WEF/AWWA Utility Management Conference and is engaged with her local member WEF association, the Rocky Mountain Water Environment Association, helping with committee planning, mentoring, and collaboration.

“I am delighted Sarah’s peers have awarded her dedication to the water profession with this prestigious recognition. Her leadership, technical knowledge, passion for collaboration, and commitment to giving back have helped advance the industry for the betterment of our environment for future generations.”

Brown and Caldwell Chief Technical Officer Wendy Broley

Brown and Caldwell creates C-suite role to drive sustained growth

Oct 18, 2022

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Leading environmental engineering and construction services firm Brown and Caldwell today announces the creation of a new C-suite role to direct its long-term growth strategy. With immediate effect, senior vice president (SVP) Geoff Grant has been promoted to chief growth officer responsible for developing and implementing sustainable client-focused growth plans.

The firm has grown substantially in the last five years, increasing its headcount by one-third to 2,000 employee-owners. Furthermore, it has increased its presence in strategic locations including Chicago, Dallas, and Vancouver, while expanding its Los Angeles, New York City, and Atlanta operations to better serve municipal and private clients.

CEO Rich D’Amato commented on Brown and Caldwell’s growth trajectory:

“This new position is essential to increasing our competitiveness, attracting and growing top talent, and enhancing client service through innovative and cost-effective solutions. Geoff’s forward-thinking approach and deep industry knowledge will be vital to our continued, purposeful growth while remaining independent as an employee-owned company.”

Grant is a professional engineer with more than 20 years of experience in the planning, design, and construction of critical water and wastewater infrastructure. He has helped utilities nationwide solve highly technical wet weather and aging infrastructure challenges, including technical and project director roles for several multibillion-dollar stormwater abatement projects in New York.

In recent years, Grant has served on Brown and Caldwell’s executive committee as SVP of sales, leading its highly successful sales program and establishing region-specific business development strategies throughout North America and the Pacific.

Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Grant will direct the firm’s long-term growth strategy, strengthening its connections with clients and industry partners to solve the most complex water and environmental challenges. He will oversee sales and marketing functions to ensure the continuation of year-on-year progress.

UWaterloo leads new PFAS investigation into seven Ontario water systems

Oct 6, 2022

Hayward, California, plans wastewater treatment upgrades to protect San Francisco Bay

Oct 4, 2022

HAYWARD, Calif. — The City of Hayward (City) is making significant improvements at its Water Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) to serve a growing population, rehabilitate aging infrastructure, and improve the quality of purified water released to the San Francisco Bay.

Known as the “Heart of the Bay,” Hayward is the sixth-largest city in the Bay Area with over 163,000 residents. The WPCF, originally constructed in 1952, treats an average of 11.3 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater before it is pumped to a facility operated by the East Bay Dischargers Authority where it is dechlorinated and discharged into the bay via a deep-water outfall.

Modifications are planned at the WPCF to meet anticipated nutrient discharge regulations and accommodate increased wastewater flows and loads as Hayward’s population is forecasted to grow by approximately 33 percent from 2015 to 2050, according to the Association of Bay Area Governments. Ultimately, the upgrades will position the City as an early adopter of nutrient reduction solutions that will protect vital ecosystems in the bay.

The project is a key part of the City’s plan to improve its aging infrastructure as described by Director of Public Works and Utilities Alex Ameri:

“As the center of the dynamic Bay Area, Hayward continues to plan for the future, working hard to balance the needs of our growing population with the preservation of open space and an aggressive economic development strategy. This important project is critical to protecting the bay while maintaining excellent service to our vibrant communities.”

The City has enlisted Brown and Caldwell for preliminary and final design services for the improvements. As prime consultant, the firm will develop solutions to incorporate biological nutrient removal, primarily nitrogen, in the facility’s treatment process to meet nutrient limits for treated effluent discharges to the bay as regulated by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Such solutions will provide flexibility to accommodate expansion using conventional treatment methods or process intensification using new technologies to avoid building new treatment tanks, depending on future needs and evolving regulations.

With an eye on climate change impacts, including potential flooding and rising groundwater resulting from sea level rise, the upgraded facilities will be designed to improve resiliency.

The sequencing of construction activities to minimize operational disruptions during construction of the improvements is crucial to the project’s success. Brown and Caldwell will work closely with WPCF staff to develop a robust construction sequencing plan to minimize disruptions to plant operations while at the same time maintaining the quality of effluent discharged to the bay.

Brown and Caldwell will also prepare a comprehensive biosolids and renewable energy master plan that considers the impact of the nutrient upgrades on the existing solids handling capacity at the plant and sustainable management of the useful organic material produced in the treatment process. The plan will include resource recovery and beneficial reuse recommendations in alignment with the City’s sustainability goals. Furthermore, the plan will provide a framework to help Hayward comply with Senate Bill 1383, which requires reducing California’s organic waste sent to solid waste landfills by 75 percent by 2025 as part of the state’s plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We commend the City for its forward planning and commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Brown and Caldwell Principal-in-Charge Fran Burlingham. “Our team is honored to help deliver the plant of the future and position Hayward for continued success.”

Final design of the improvements is scheduled for summer 2024 with construction anticipated for completion by spring 2028.

Brown and Caldwell strengthens drinking water practice, welcomes new leader

Sep 19, 2022

DENVER, Colo. — Brown and Caldwell today announces Dr. Christopher Corwin has joined the company as national drinking water leader. The hire supports the firm’s strategy to solidify its position as the leading drinking water solutions provider for municipalities, private industry, and government agencies throughout North America and the Pacific.

Dr. Corwin has held various leadership roles throughout his 20-year career pertaining to drinking water process planning, distribution system water quality, treatment optimization and modeling, and bench- and pilot-scale testing. With a focus on innovative solutions to lower energy, resource, and waste production, he has led several high-profile projects in lead reduction, emerging contaminant treatment, and integrated water master planning.

Dr. Corwin’s hiring will bolster Brown and Caldwell’s 75-year legacy of solving the most complex water issues at a time when communities face unprecedented challenges with access to clean drinking water.

Based in Denver, he will grow the firm’s drinking water practice, aligning its technical and R&D experts with clients to deliver groundbreaking and trusted solutions to safeguard water supplies and enhance system reliability.

A dedicated educator, Dr. Corwin was previously a faculty member of the University of Colorado Boulder, teaching undergraduate and graduate-level courses in all areas of environmental engineering. He will utilize his mentorship skills to develop Brown and Caldwell’s young professionals while supervising a team of national drinking water specialty leaders.

“I am delighted to welcome a passionate visionary in Chris to our growing drinking water practice. His highly technical experience paired with a focus on sustainability will greatly benefit our clients in making investments go further while protecting precious water resources.”

Brown and Caldwell Director of Technical Practices Meghan Krishnayya

A licensed professional engineer, Dr. Corwin holds a bachelor’s in civil engineering from the University of Kentucky, and a master’s and doctorate in the same field from the University of Colorado Boulder.

Research explores option for destruction of PFAS

Sep 13, 2022

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Water Environment Federation (WEF) has partnered with a multidisciplinary research team to study the effectiveness of destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) using pyrolysis followed by thermal oxidation to support the beneficial reuse of biosolids.

PFAS are a complex group of manufactured chemicals found in consumer and industrial products. Deemed “forever chemicals” for their ability to remain intact in the environment over time, PFAS have been detected in soil, air, and water and can be harmful to human health.

Wastewater utilities face regulatory uncertainty over the release of PFAS to the environment, including via biosolids. Biosolids are a product of the wastewater treatment process where solids and liquids are separated. The solids are treated physically and chemically to produce nutrient-rich biosolids. Decades of research has demonstrated that biosolids offer essential plant nutrients, increase water retention for plant growth, and build carbon reserves in the soil. Many utilities are contemplating new ways to eliminate PFAS from biosolids to ensure regulatory compliance and to continue the many beneficial uses for the resource.

“It is vital for economic and environmental sustainability that communities across the country are able to use biosolids for their many benefits and that this valuable resource is not just sent to fill up landfills. The water sector has always used the best science to guide our work and this research to explore destruction of PFAS is part of that commitment.”

WEF Executive Director Walt Marlowe

With contributions from supporting utilities and technology providers, the $500,000 study will be led by principal investigators Lloyd Winchell (Brown and Caldwell), Franco Berruti (Western University), and Detlef Knappe (North Carolina State University).

Pyrolysis – the chemical decomposition of organic materials via heat application – produces valuable biochar and fuel-rich offgas. By using thermal oxidation, the offgas can be reused as the heat source for pyrolysis or to generate power. In tandem, these processes can potentially destroy PFAS to alleviate concerns with biochar reuse or air emissions.

The research will evaluate PFAS destruction through a laboratory and full-scale pyrolysis and thermal oxidation system, striving for a fluorine mass balance to understand the fate of PFAS through the process.

“The water and wastewater industry urgently needs a solution to stop the cycling of PFAS in the environment,” said Winchell. “This groundbreaking research will use state-of-the-art analytical methods to address this complex issue and fill a critical gap in the ever-changing PFAS landscape.”

Following an 18-month research period involving sampling, laboratory experiments, and analyses, a final report with findings and full-scale pyrolysis recommendations will be published by WEF.

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About WEF
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization of more than 30,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. Since 1928, WEF and its members have protected public health and the environment. As a global water sector leader, our mission is to connect water professionals; enrich the expertise of water professionals; increase the awareness of the impact and value of water; and provide a platform for water sector innovation. To learn more, visit www.wef.org.

One Water strategies drive water reuse

Sep 6, 2022

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