CHA receives ACEC-Indiana Honor Award

CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) received an Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Indiana 2016 Engineering Excellence Awards (EEA). The EEA program honors the year’s most outstanding engineering projects, which have been rigorously judged for their complexity, innovation and value to society.

CHA received the Honor Award for its work on the Spruce Street Floatables Control Facility in the City of Terre Haute. As part of their long term control plan, the city installed screening facilities at two combined sewer overflow locations. CHA evaluated several screening technologies and strategies to select the best match that met the unique needs and design constraints of the Spruce Street outfall, including integration with 80-year-old brick sewers and a limited construction footprint.

The new screening facilities are the first of their kind in the United States. CHA utilized rotating drum screen technology to keep screenings inside the collection system and avoid the use of aboveground dumpster facilities. Energy also isn’t wasted transporting the screenings to a remote site to be collected.

The city also worked with CHA to repair and reconstruct nearly 100-year-old structures and manholes at Spruce Street. CHA took great care in minimizing disturbance of the facilities that were to remain after the project was completed, and additional support systems were installed to support the existing facilities both during and after construction.

Through the continuous communication and cooperation of the contractor, CHA and the City of Terre Haute, the project was constructed two months ahead of schedule. The addition of the screening facility on Spruce Street has helped eliminate pollutants from impacting Fairbanks Parks. No longer are empty bottles, candy wrappers, plastic bags or hygiene products washed into the Wabash River during heavy rainfall and carried downstream through Fairbanks Park.

The project is a major step forward in the city’s long term plan to eliminate water pollution caused by combined sewer overflows. Projects that receive an Honor Award are eligible for the Grand Project Award. The Grand Project Award winner is announced at the EEA Banquet Luncheon.