EARTH TECH NEWS
GREELEY AND HANSEN AND EARTH TECH TO DESIGN AN UPGRADE TO POLLUTION CONTROL PLANT
Design Will Employ Innovative Technology to Protect
Chesapeake Bay and other Local Watersheds
LONG BEACH, Calif. (Dec. 10, 2007) – Greeley and Hansen, a national consulting engineering firm specializing in water, wastewater and urban infrastructure projects, and Earth Tech Inc., a global provider of consulting, engineering and construction services, have been awarded a two-year contract to design a $75 million upgrade project for the Noman M. Cole, Jr., Pollution Control Plant. The 67-million gallons per day (mgd) facility, located in Fairfax County, Va., is the largest advanced wastewater treatment plant in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Greeley and Hansen, as the lead consultant, together with Earth Tech, as subconsultant, have designed improvements to upgrade the plant to meet new enhanced nutrient removal (ENR) discharge standards through the use of an innovative technology called moving bed bioreactors (MBBRs). When completed, this will be the largest MBBR installation in North America, and the only known MBBR system in the world used to attain this level of treatment at a wastewater treatment plant.
The Noman Cole plant was recently recognized with a Platinum Peak Performance Award for meeting 100% of the federal wastewater effluent standards for more than five consecutive years by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies. This distinction was given to only 76 of the more than 16,000 municipal wastewater treatment plants across the country for preventing pollution.
The upgrade project will enable Fairfax County to achieve a 60% reduction in nitrogen discharges from current levels to meet new, more stringent future state requirements for effluent. The Commonwealth of Virginia adopted these new nutrient discharge standards to help further protect the Chesapeake Bay and other important watersheds near Virginia.
Greeley and Hansen is providing overall project management and design coordination , in addition to designing upgrades to the plant’s existing screening, filtration and aeration facilities. Greeley and Hansen is also providing ‘bridging” consultant services to assist Fairfax County in using a design/build delivery system for excess flow facilities improvements. “In addition to the MBBR facilities, other major improvements are being made to existing systems that will provide significant benefits at the plant,” said Clyde Wilber, Greeley and Hansen principal and project director. “These improvements will enhance operation ease and flexibility while at the same time delivering a robust and reliable process that will substantially reduce nutrient discharges.”
Earth Tech’s portion of the design includes all of the MBBR facilities, as well as modifications to existing gravity thickeners. “Our design experience — along with our expertise with MBBR technology — will enable us to design an upgrade that will meet Fairfax County’s new regulatory requirements for nutrient discharge standards,” said Brian Burgher, Earth Tech’s Capital District Manager. “Reducing excess nutrients will improve water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and other neighboring water bodies.”
The Noman M. Cole, Jr., Pollution Control Plant currently provides biological nutrient removal (BNR) to meet a total nitrogen limit of 8 mg/L and total phosphorus limit of 0.18 mg/L. Earth Tech’s design will upgrade the plant to meet a total nitrogen limit of less than 3 mg/L and total phosphorus limit of less than 0.l8 mg/L.
The design work began in May and is expected to be completed by March 2009.
About Greeley and Hansen
Greeley and Hansen is a leader in developing innovative engineering solutions for a wide array of water, wastewater, water reuse, and solid waste challenges aimed at improving public health, safety, and welfare. With offices in 16 major US cities, the firm serves clients in all
phases of projects ranging from master planning and feasibility studies through design, construction, and start-up. Since 1914, Greeley and Hansen has collaborated with its client partners in public and private utilities and agencies to create better urban environments. More information is available at www.greeley-hansen.com
About Earth Tech Inc.
Earth Tech Inc. is a global provider of a full suite of engineering, construction and operations services to the international water/wastewater, environmental, transportation, and facilities markets. A business unit of Tyco International Ltd., Earth Tech employs some 7,000 talented people, delivering services to customers in 15 countries. Founded in 1970, Earth Tech is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif. More information on Earth Tech can be found at www.earthtech.com.
