San Antonio Water System Awards MWH Global With Basin Planning Consultant Contract

Engineering firm will help evaluate key capacity and remediation projects under $12.5M contract

MWH Global, now part of Stantec, the premier solutions provider focused on water and natural resources, today announced the award of a contract by the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) to become one of the Basin Planning Consultants (BPC) for the Sanitary Sewer Overflow Reduction Program (SSORP). MWH will become part of the SSORP team and will develop preliminary engineering design concepts to allow SAWS to decide what it will construct, as required under a Consent Decree (CD) mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Justice.

The objective of this project is to determine the most cost-effective approach to correcting capacity constraints and remediating condition defects in SAWS sewer collection system. It is significant in that it forms the basis for all of the capital improvements to which SAWS will commit to EPA in the East and West Basins. The required services will advance conceptual solutions (alternatives) from a formative conceptual state to preliminary engineering design that SAWS can evaluate. SAWS will then use the BPC’s preliminary engineering designs to select the best alternative solutions to include in the remedial measures plans to submit to the EPA and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and to implement as projects. There will be two remedial measures plans required, one for condition remedial measures and one for capacity remedial measures.

“SAWS has a significant challenge on its hands: find sewer capacity and condition solutions, under tight time constraints, that satisfy EPA, while remaining affordable for the citizens of San Antonio,” said Chris Young, central region manager for MWH Global, now part of Stantec. “MWH has significant experience in solving technically complex Consent Decree driven work in a cost-effective manner, and we are humbled to be working with SAWS on this project.”

San Antonio Water System serves approximately 1.6 million customers in one of the nation’s fastest growing markets, increasing the need to provide improved water infrastructure and support the development of water infrastructure for the future of the community. A recent survey released by MWH revealed that Americans are eager to see upgrades to water infrastructure in their community. According to the survey, more than two-thirds (68 percent) feel their community should be spending more money to make sure its water infrastructure is well-maintained and properly functioning.

About MWH, now part of Stantec
We're active members of the communities we serve. That's why at MWH, now part of Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

The MWH community, now part of Stantec, unites approximately 22,000 employees working in over 400 locations across six continents. We collaborate across disciplines and industries to bring water and infrastructure projects to life. Our work as architects, engineers, and consultants from initial project concept and planning through design, construction, and commissioning begins at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. This work is built on a nearly 200-year history. With a heritage in water, our world’s most precious resource, we safeguard and sustain lives, communities, and businesses worldwide.

Our local knowledge and relationships, coupled with our global expertise, qualify us to go anywhere to solve our clients' challenges in more creative and personalized ways. With a long-term commitment to the people and places we serve, we have the unique ability to connect to projects on a personal level and advance the quality of life in communities around the globe. Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. For more information, visit mwhglobal.com and stantec.com.