Girdwood Wastewater Facility Upgrade

Project Date: 2009
Project Manager: Chris Beck
Client: Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility
Location: Girdwood

Project Description

Read the FACTBOOK: Girdwood Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade. Girdwood’s Wastewater Treatment Facility needs to be upgraded to serve the area’s present and future projected population. Agnew::Beck Consulting is helping the Anchorage Water and Wastewater Utility (AWWU) reach out to educate people about the facility and invite ideas about the project.

The existing facility was built in 1978. Girdwood’s population of residents and visitors has grown since then and so has the demand on the system. The plant now needs to be replaced to serve Girdwood’s present needs and projected future growth. The plant is experiencing increasing difficulties with the day-to-day operation and maintenance activities needed to meet discharge requirements. These difficulties are aggravated by the unexpected amounts of water (infiltration and inflow) that enters the collection system and stresses the treatment plant processes.

A team of engineers has been helping AWWU evaluate the wastewater facility and treatment process and they’ve recommend using new technology to more efficiently produce cleaner water. The facility has been designed in a way that is responsive to changes in Girdwood’s population. Now, AWWU is working with the Girdwood Board of Supervisors (GBOS) and the community to provide more specifics on project design, funding and permitting, with construction potentially beginning in 2012.

The upgrade is estimated to cost $40-$60 million with annual operation costs of $1 million. The project will be funded by AWWU rate-payers, not by taxes, and there may be an option to access funding via the recently approved Federal Economic Recovery Plan.

The facility will be constructed in phases, within the same eight-acres it sits now, to provide effective wastewater treatment for the next 10-20 years of Girdwood’s projected population. The facility can then efficiently expand to meet further needs at that time.

Timeline

AWWU will work with Girdwood Board of Supervisors (GBOS) and the community to provide more specifics on project design, costs, funding, environmental permit process, etc.

Feb. 09: Propose creating a GBOS/community advisory committee

March 09: Prepare, circulate "Factbook" Background Information Report

Early April 09: Community informational meeting

April 09: Request for GBOS review of project and resolution of support

Tentative dates for project completion – (subject to revision, affected by Federal funding requirements)

June/July 09: Approval of project environmental documents

Aug./Sept. 09: Preliminary design

Fall 2010-11: Solicit bids for construction

Potential Completion 2012-14: Two-year construction process