William M. Stout, P.E.
John Kovacs, P.E., PMP, M.ASCE
Arthur G. Hoffmann, Jr., P.E., D.GE.
More coverage:
Community involvement and eco-friendly engineering are highlighted throughout this edition. Dam safety issues and sustainable water resource endeavors are also examined at the local, state and national levels.
News
Georgia Water Treatment Plant Dedication
and Grand
Opening
Approximately 200 guests including local officials and project consultants attended the public grand opening and dedication of the expanded Highland Avenue Water Treatment Plant (WTP) in Augusta, Georgia. As engineering consultant, Gannett Fleming worked with Parsons (Construction Manager At Risk) and CH2MHill (Augusta Utilities Department's Bond Program Manager) to increase WTP capacity from 45 million-gallons-per-day (mgd) to 60 mgd. Replacing a 1930s plant, the facility incorporates 21st-century treatment technology to meet Augusta community drinking water needs for the next 40 years.
Michael Robinson, P.E. (featured far left).
Augusta Mayor Deke Copenhaver cited a WTP expansion project's positive economic impact on a community during the event. Augusta Commissioner J.R. Hatney commended the expansion team for providing 41 percent of the construction work from the $63.5 million project to local and minority contractors.
Engineering Features
The Highland Avenue WTP services more than 160,000 customers within a 230-square-mile area by treating raw water collected from the Savannah River via the Augusta Canal. The expanded facility features two 1,500 pound-per-day hypochlorite generators and space for future ultraviolet disinfection. On-site sodium hypochlorite generation safeguards the neighborhood by eliminating potentially hazardous chlorine gas storage at the plant.
operation (one of the largest systems in eastern United States).
WTP enhancements improved chemical feed facilities and targeted security and supervisory control and data acquisition systems, raw water intake structures, and finished water and washwater pump stations.
Neighborhood Involvement
The expansion team worked closely with the Augusta community and city officials throughout the project. Exposed clearwell walls will be decorated with panoramic paintings prepared by local artists. The Augusta Water Department can use the renovated facility to inform the public of its history, and teach school children about water treatment and conservation.
Mockingbird Hill Miniature Village, a local landmark at the plant site, was removed and preserved during construction. The park was rebuilt in a new configuration that enhanced wheelchair accessibility.
the WTP grand opening.
Maryland Fishing Wharf Enhancements
The grand opening of the $4.5 million, handicap-accessible Conowingo Fishing Wharf was held this summer. Designed by Gannett Fleming for Exelon Generation, the wharf is located on the west bank of the Susquehanna River in Harford County, Md. Open to the public, the event was well attended by political and business leaders.
Gannett Fleming provided Exelon with planning, design, permitting, resident engineering, and construction support for the project. In addition to the fishing wharf, Gannett Fleming provided design and permitting for a new parking area and rustic trail on the east side of the Susquehanna River along Octoraro Creek in Cecil County, Md. The trail now provides fishing access to the eastern shoreline of the river.
Regs/Programs
A Broad-Spectrum Environmental Policy:
NEPA 40th Anniversary
Established in 1969, the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires federal agencies to integrate environmental values with decision making. It is critical to consider the environmental impacts of proposed actions and responsible alternatives to those actions.
In addition to its environmental protection and conservation impacts, NEPA influences federal programs which help shape communities across the country. Gannett Fleming has provided NEPA compliance and documentation support since the 1970s.
in Elkland Township, Sullivan County, Pa.
Gannett Fleming recently facilitated quick-turnaround environmental studies and NEPA documentation for 29 projects across the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) District 3-0 during a six month period. Many of these projects were processed as a part of PennDOT's "Accelerated Bridge Program" or in advance of federal stimulus projects.
Virginia Dam Safety
The Commonwealth of Virginia adopted new impounding structure (dam) regulations last Fall which necessitate increased compliance application and coordination. Many existing dams in Virginia are impacted by these requirements, including previously unregulated dams – some as small as six feet in height. New regulations redefine hazard classifications and change operating and design criteria. Flood inundation mapping and dam break evaluations are also required, while emergency action plans and annual drills may be mandated.
Papers/Presentations
Civil Engineering Notoriety
Senior Design Engineer Timothy Glessner, P.E., authored an article entitled "Expanding In Place," featured in the September edition of "Civil Engineering." Glessner's piece provides an in-depth discussion of the Forest Park Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Expansion Project in Chalfont, Pa.
A 2009 American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania Honor Award-Winning Project, Forest Park was one of the first facilities to install membrane filters within its original sand filter box footprint. It is a rare distinction to be published in "Civil Engineering," the premiere magazine of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Glessner also served as process design engineer on the Highland Avenue WTP. [news]
Dam Safety 2009
Several Gannett Fleming staff delivered presentations during the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) Conference in Hollywood, Fla. In addition to the presentations listed below, Paul Schweiger, P.E., engineering manager, moderated a session entitled "America’s Next Top Spillway Models."
Feature Abstract:
*Paper: "Alkali-Aggregate Reaction in Concrete Gravity Dams: North Carolina Roanoke Rapids Hydroelectric Facility" (Donald Roarabaugh, P.E., project manager; and Rod Holderbaum, P.E., vice president)
*Project Manager, Boyd Howard, P.E., also co-authored a presentation entitled "Investigation of Roanoke Rapids Dam: Predicting Future Response."
Concurrent Sessions:
"Physical Modeling to Evaluate Spillway Performance for the Modern-Day Probable Maximum Flood" (Robert Kline, P.E., engineering manager; and Michael Morrison, P.E., project manager)
"Gouhou Dam Failure A Presentation of Case History" (Christopher Bailey, P.E., senior geotechnical engineer; and Paul Lewis, P.E., vice president)
"OK, You Built It, Now Show Me That It Will Work" (Timothy Johnston, P.E., project manager; Rod Holderbaum, P.E., vice president; and Paul Schweiger, P.E., engineering manager)
"Dam Operation and Maintenance – Pay a Little Now or Pay Dearly Later" (Dean Durkee, Ph.D., P.E., vice president; and Paul Schweiger, P.E., engineering manager)
Illinois Railroad Environmental Conference
Vice President Gary Rozmus, P.E., and Michael Savarese, P.E., project engineer, will discuss two Long Island, N.Y., railroad projects during the railroad environmental conference at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Part of the conference planning committee, Rozmus will also deliver a presentation on environmental issues involved in the rehabilitation of the Metro North Harman Yard, N.Y.
Chuck Mason, C.H.M.M., project manager, will additionally discuss sustainability metrics at the event.
Feature Presentation:
"Sustainable Design Elements of the Babylon Long Island Rail Road Train Wash" [Project Overview] (Gary Rozmus, P.E., vice president)
Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Association Conference
This year's PMAA Annual Conference in Hershey, Pa., was well attended by Gannett Fleming and GeoDecisions technology professionals. Timothy Glessner, P.E., delivered a presentation profiling large-scale, low-pressure membrane filtration for water treatment. Jim Elliott, P.E., vice president, discussed stormwater management and Jonathan Greiner, project manager, GeoDecisions, profiled Rapid Response System.
Rapid Response Advantage:
In addition to emergency ("Tier 1") notification and PADEP Chapter 109 safe drinking water compliance [July 2009 edition], water systems can use Rapid Response to inform customers of "less critical" events. Examples include hydrant flushing and planned maintenance. Instead of posting hydrant flushing dates in the newspaper, utilities can send targeted customer calls. This direct delivery method provides precise information on when hydrant flushing will be conducted in various service districts. It can also significantly reduce the number of customer complaints due to cloudy or discolored water which may stain laundry or have other negative impacts.