Challenge
In the urban area of western Virginia, customers in the two counties of Franklin and Bedford are provided water by two sources: Franklin County, served by the Western Virginia Water Authority (WVWA), and Bedford County, served by the Bedford Regional Water Authority (BRWA). As these areas continue to experience ongoing economic growth, new treatment facilities, as well as new and upgraded conveyance infrastructure, were needed to support growing water demand.
At the same time, the distribution systems of both water systems—Bedford County and the Town of Bedford—were combined as part of a 2013 agreement, which also required the Town of Bedford to have a backup water source by the end of 2016. The existing water treatment plant for both these areas is located in Moneta and is only able to draw a maximum of 1 mgd from Smith Mountain Lake and is operating near peak capacity. Meanwhile, water demands required, at a minimum, 3 mgd.
Approach
Black & Veatch, together with its self-perform construction group Overland Contracting, Inc. (OCI), was selected through a two-step progressive design-build procurement process to construct a new water treatment plant and install 22 miles of water lines from the existing Smith Mountain Lake water treatment plant through Bedford County. BV/OCI also constructed a new membrane-filtration water-treatment plant, jointly owned and operated by BRWA and WVWA, that provides greater capacity—initially 6 mgd and eventually increasing to 12 mgd—to support growing water demand in the region.
Construction on this fast-track project began in November 2015. Water lines are required to be installed by the end of 2016 so that the new water treatment facility could be operational in the spring of 2017. By meeting these milestones, the team enabled the jurisdictions to meet growing water demand and provide a backup water supply for the region as a measure of reliability and resilience.
Results
Together, the BRWA/BV/OCI team provided facilities and infrastructure that maximized BRWA’s investment and produces high-quality water at expandable facilities. The team accomplished this while meeting the rapid time frame and keeping the public engaged throughout the process of construction and pipelines routing through communities. The new facilities have immediate treatment capabilities of 6 mgd, with the ability to expand to 12 mgd in the future.
The progressive design-build project allowed the Black & Veatch team to work closely with the new owner, regulatory agencies, and the public to manage risks and mitigate challenges. This kept the project on schedule and resulted in savings of more than $6 million. The Black & Veatch team worked closely with the Virginia Department of Health, Appalachian Power, Norfolk Southern Railroad, and the Virginia Department of Transportation, among other entities. The team also obtained easements for the pipeline routes.
Other WCDA member firm involved: Garney Construction (subcontractor to OCI—installed water lines)
