KINSTON, NC, Dec. 22, 2008 -- CDM's design of the Neuse Regional water treatment plant (WTP) recently won a grand award in the water and wastewater category of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of North Carolina 2009 Engineering Excellence Awards.
CDM provided design, engineering, construction, and start-up services to the Neuse Regional Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) for the 15-million-gallon-per-day (mgd) water treatment plant, which provides a potable water supply for approximately 100,000 customers in Lenoir and Pitt counties. This unique solution effectively treats surface water drawn from the Neuse River as well as groundwater supplied by WASA members, reducing the region's reliance on groundwater and diminishing aquifers.
CDM's plant design includes multiple treatment barriers, such as conventional treatment, ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection, and activated carbon adsorption, to produce high-quality drinking water. UV disinfection -- the first application in North Carolina for a water treatment plant of this size -- is the primary disinfectant, followed by granular activated carbon to treat organic compounds and improve the taste and odor of the treated water. CDM also designed a state-of-the-art control system for the $58 million water treatment plant.
The WTP design incorporated several sustainable elements, such as elevating the raw water impoundment, which enables water to flow into the plant by gravity, reducing pumping costs. Recycling plant backwash water reduces discharges back to the river and also saves on pumping costs. Where pumps are used, variable frequency drives allow operators to match plant flows with system demands, helping to save energy costs.
The Neuse WTP is part of a complete $138.7 million water system -- the largest United States Department of Agriculture Rural Development‐funded water project in the nation to date -- and it is fully funded by grants and loans.
CDM is a consulting, engineering, construction, and operations firm delivering exceptional service to public and private clients worldwide.
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