San Francisco Public Utilities selects CH2M HILL to help with biosolids upgrade project

DENVER — CH2M HILL, as part of a team with Brown and Caldwell, was awarded an $80 million contract by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to provide planning and engineering services for the Southeast Plant Biosolids Digester Facilities Project, a $1.5 billion capital investment that will provide critical upgrades for San Francisco’s wastewater system. The project will result in the replacement of all biosolids processes at San Francisco’s Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant, including anaerobic digesters, solids dewatering, solids thickening, odor, control and energy recovery facilities.

CH2M HILL has been working with the SFPUC on various projects since 1973, with its first major project at the Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant in the late 1970s, leading the design of secondary treatment facilities. CH2M HILL also provided design and construction of the SFPUC Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant, next to the San Francisco Zoo.

SFPUC’s Southeast Plant is the largest wastewater treatment facility in San Francisco, treating 80 percent of the city’s total flow. Some of the biosolids facilities date back to the plant’s original construction in the 1950s and have reached the end of their useful life. SFPUC’s goal is to replace this aging system in a way that enhances the city’s goals for sustainability, flexibility and community benefits.

When complete, the vision is for the Southeast Plant to have a world-class biosolids system that produces a Class A biosolids product, achieves beneficial reuse of treatment byproducts (including biosolids and biogas), maintains stringent, non-detectable odor levels, and integrates with the community to improve aesthetics and safety, as well as provides opportunity for education and job growth.

“CH2M HILL has long history of successfully delivering projects in partnership with SFPUC. Through this project, and with our partnership with Brown and Caldwell, CH2M HILL will continue that long history of delivering quality, award-winning wastewater facilities for the City of San Francisco,” says Tom Price, CH2M HILL Western U.S. Regional Business Group Manager.

The Brown and Caldwell/CH2M HILL team will help SFPUC determine which biosolids treatment technology to use. Brown and Caldwell is the prime consultant with CH2M HILL as a major partner. The team is comprised of a variety of subconsultants, including 12 San Francisco local business enterprises. The project planning and definition phase is expected to last 25 months. The new biosolids facilities are expected to be fully designed, constructed, and operational within 10 years.