Portfolio
Water/Wastewater Engineering
Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority - Small Diameter Water and Sewer Rehabilitation Program, Albuquerque, NM
Contact: Nancy Musinski, PE, Project Manager, (505) 768- 2729
Service Years: 2009-date
Construction Cost: ~$4.0 million per annum
The Water Authority hired Smith to prepare an Asset Management Plan for their small diameter (less than or equal to 12 inches) waterlines and sanitary sewerlines. As part of the same contract, Smith was tasked with engineering the FY11 and FY12 phases of the Small Diameter Water & Sewer Rehabilitation.
The Asset Management Plan included an inventory, a condition assessment, and a ranking system for prioritizing the Water Authority's rehabilitation and replacement needs over the next ten years. The Plan uses a criticality (or risk) based methodology, showing the Water Authority's current small diameter pipe failure risk level and estimates a cost to reducing the risks for pipes throughout the Authority's service area.
The design phases included a Design Analysis Report, preparation of plans and contract documents using Water Authority standard forms. Smith prepared some specialized specification and drawings that included sewerline rehabilitation, pipe bursting, insert valves, and a gas trap manhole detail for odor control. We also assisted in the bidding and award processes. As part of construction phase services we conducted the pre-construction meeting, reviewed contractor submittals, and conducted weekly progress meetings. As additional services, Smith provided a Resident Project Representative and provided for materials testing.
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Aztec WWTP General Improvements, Aztec, NM
In response to the drastic changes in discharge requirements issued by Region 6 of the EPA, Smith worked with Aztec to identify the best technology to meet the new standards; which were unattainable by the City's old plant. To keep operations simple while increasing capacity to 1.5 MGD, an extended aeration regime and an advanced nutrient removal system were selected. The headworks were modified to accept a fine screen rotor drum bar screen. Smith engineered the new wastewater treatment plant that cost $8.4 million. The project, funded primarily by New Mexico Clean Water Revolving Fund and the United States Department of Agriculture's Rural Utility Service, is currently in start-up mode.
Because of the plant's use of innovative technology, simplicity of operation, and low cost it was recognized in 2010 as the "NM Project of the Year" by the American Public Works Association and for its "Engineering Excellence in NM" by the American Council of Engineering Companies.
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Artesia WWTP, General Improvements, City of Artesia, NM
The City of Artesia has experienced a significant increase in its population in recent years, due mostly to the growth of local oil companies and the expansion of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). To accommodate this growth and provide capacity for the future, Smith was hired to double the size of the existing wastewater treatment facility and provide new and improved unit processes. Within eight months of the notice-to-proceed the Smith wastewater team had completed the design of $10 million in improvements and upgrades to the activated sludge facility. New systems included UV disinfection and a solids handling, belt filter-press facility. Smith is also providing testing and construction management services; housing a full-time construction observer and testing technician at the site. The project, financed by municipal bonds, is expected to be fully operational by May 2011.
Las Campanas-BDD Booster Station and Transmission Line Project, Las Campanas Development, Santa Fe, NM
Reference: Phil George, Board President, The Club at Las Campanas, (505) 820-6775
Smith recently completed design of a high-pressure Pump system at the Buckman Direct Diversion (BDD) Booster Station 2A facility, and a transmission line extending to Lake 14 at Las Campanas. This project included engineering of 4.8 miles of 12-inch ductile iron force main across both undeveloped BLM property and improved Las Campanas property. Smith provided a broad range of design services for this project, including hydraulic analysis, permitting for arroyo crossings (ACE 401/404) and BLM right-of-way, cathodic protection, preparation of drawings and specifications per BLM and BDD requirements, and construction management. Due to urgent need for alternative irrigation sources, the pump station and transmission line designs were completed in 6 months, and bidding/contracting was completed within 2 months. The construction phase began in August 2011, with scheduled completion by May 2012.
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New Wastewater Treatment Plant, Village of Wagon Mound, NM
The Village of Wagon Mound's wastewater treatment plant has always been easy to operate and served the Village well. However, indications of groundwater contamination in the area caused the NMED to issue a corrective action order to the Village. The Village hired Smith to engineer improvements. The core of the project consisted of cleaning, enlargement, and relining the ponds. Several simple process improvements were also included. To respond to the order and meet the funding window the project had to be completed quickly. And, as a result, Smith's expertise in pond processes was essential to meeting the Village's goals.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades, City of Jal, NM
The original design for the City of Jal's wastewater treatment plant did not address nitrogen removal and as result the facility was not meeting its new discharge requirements. And because Jal reuses all the effluent generated from the plant at its local golf course the solving this problem had high community visibility. The City of Jal hired Smith to plan, permit and design the necessary wastewater treatment plant upgrades. Smith upgraded the existing lagoon system to a high performance aerated lagoon system. These upgrades required the existing sludge to be removed and land applied, aeration and mixing to be enhanced, and the pond linings (both concrete and synthetic) to be rehabilitated.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements, Village of Magdalena, NM
The Village of Magdalena secured funding and procured an engineer to improve its wastewater treatment plant. When the Village released the original engineer, Smith was hired to pick up the design for the selected improvements on a tight schedule. Smith completed the design of a pond system and relining of existing ponds, and secured approval for pond cleaning and land disposal of sludge within three months of being hired. The project's first phase was designed and constructed, and the Village's NM Discharge Plan (including the constituent operational, contingency, monitoring, and closure plans) was renewed.
Wastewater Facility Improvements, Phases 1, 2, & 3, Village of Melrose, NM
The Village's shallow pond-based plant, with polishing subsurface flow wetlands, has performed surprisingly well over the years. However, contamination of area groundwater was linked to the plant. Smith was retained and engineered upgrades that eliminate subsurface leakage, maintain effluent quality, and decrease loading rates at the plant's disposal areas. The project was broken into phases to match the Village's funding pattern. The resulting project included construction of a new pond, cleaning and relining of the existing pond, and construction of new effluent application areas.
Wastewater System, Village of Corona, NM
Smith began assisting Corona several years ago by inventorying the community's onsite wastewater facilities. As the Village's understanding of their wastewater issues grew, so did the comprehensiveness of the solutions. Today, Smith has completed design on a sewer system and treatment plant to serve the entire community. Effluent disposal will use innovative technology to irrigate the high school football field and allow excess water to infiltrate into the subsurface. Smith prepared the Discharge Plan and worked closely with the NMED to assuage concerns about the new technology and facilitate the permitting of this cutting edge facility.
