Successful
Lake Havasu City program named Arizona Water Association Project of the Year.
Atkins, a leading engineering and design
firm, announces that the Wastewater System Expansion Program of Lake Havasu
City, Ariz., has won the 2012 Wastewater System Project of the Year Award from
the Arizona Water Association (AZ Water). Atkins has played a significant role
in executing the project; and on May 2, Atkins’ Carmen Kasner, P.E., and Kevin
Murphy, P.E., were recognized at an awards ceremony held during the AZ Water
85th annual Conference and Exhibition in Glendale, Ariz. Kasner was Atkins’
project manager for the wastewater system expansion program. Murphy, who serves
in public involvement and technical advisory roles for Atkins, was the city’s
previous Public Works Director and has been involved in the program since its
inception.
“Nearly every resident in the city was
affected by this massive, long-term program that ultimately involved work on 91
percent of the city’s streets,” says Murphy. “We’re delighted that the city has
been recognized by the Arizona Water Association for a truly remarkable
project.”
Atkins provided engineering and
construction management services in the program’s final sewer areas: the
Mockingbird, Trotwood and Chemehuevi neighborhoods in the southeastern section
of the city. Atkins’ portion of the program involved the largest amount of
construction the city has seen in a year. In all, the 10-year program
constructed hundreds of miles of new sewer lines, added 4.6 million gallons per
day capacity and other upgrades to the wastewater treatment plants, and
promoted water conservation efforts in the community.
The Lake Havasu City wastewater system
expansion helps protect the community’s ground water by closing more than
20,000 septic tanks and connecting residents to a new community sewer system.
“With an economy heavily dependent upon
tourism, boating and fishing, Lake Havasu City understands the importance of
good water quality,” says City Engineer Greg Froslie, P.E. “The program helps
significantly reduce the amount of pollutants reaching the endangered Lower
Colorado River, which supplies drinking water to more than 25 million people.”
Substantially completed in November
2011, the program was finished two years ahead of schedule. The final cost of
$348 million was more than $100 million under budget.
“It’s hard to describe just how big of
an impact the Wastewater System Expansion Program has had on our city,” says
Lake Havasu City Mayor Mark Nexsen. “In spite of many challenges, our staff and
the engineers took a very invasive project and got it done under budget and
ahead of schedule. As a resort destination, our city depends on the health of
the Colorado River, and this project’s successful completion has had a
significant influence.”
Wastewater System Expansion Program Helps Protect Ground Water
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