St. Louis, Mo. (June 29, 2006) – Black & Veatch announced today that it
has begun work on a project to develop a new groundwater supply source for the
city of St. Louis, Mo. When completed, the new water source will deliver up to
240 million gallons of groundwater per day to the Chain of Rocks Water
Purification Plant for treatment and distribution to customers in the St. Louis
metropolitan area.
“This project is an important first step in establishing a consistent water
source for our customers,” said David Visintainer, St. Louis Water Commissioner
and Director of Public Utilities. “The new groundwater supply will help satisfy
anticipated future regulatory requirements, reduce treatment costs and provide
us with a safe drinking water supply. We are pleased to have Black & Veatch
join us as we initiate this important project for the residents of St.
Louis.”
Black & Veatch is currently preparing a groundwater supply master plan
for phased implementation of the proposed new well field and transmission
pipelines as part of a contract for engineering services to build the first
phase of the project that will deliver approximately 50 million gallons of
groundwater per day to the treatment plant. The master plan is scheduled for
completion in March 2007.
“This is the beginning stage of what will ultimately be one of the largest
municipal groundwater supply development projects in the United States,” said
John Schilling, Black & Veatch project manager. “In addition to its scope,
the project is located on a historical and geographically important site. Our
goal is to adapt these major water system improvements, with special emphasis
on their aesthetics, so that they will blend into the natural surroundings of
this environmentally sensitive area.”
The Chain of Rocks Plant was originally constructed in 1894 and is located
on the west bank of the Mississippi River, five miles south of its confluence
with the Missouri River. The plant is operated by the St. Louis Water Division
and has the capacity to produce up to 300 million gallons of purified drinking
water per day from raw Mississippi River water supply. The proposed groundwater
supply is located in the Columbia Bottom area at the confluence of the Missouri
and Mississippi Rivers, the two largest rivers in North America.
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch Corporation is a leading global engineering, consulting
and construction company specializing in infrastructure development in energy,
water, information and government markets. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch
develops tailored infrastructure solutions that meet clients’ needs and provide
sustainable benefits. Solutions include conceptual and preliminary engineering
services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management,
asset management, information technology, environmental, security design and
consulting, and management consulting services.
B&V Water, Black & Veatch’s water business, provides innovative,
technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide.
Local project managers work with a global team of water and wastewater
treatment process experts to address site-specific challenges through a broad
range of consulting, study, planning, design, design-build and construction
management services. The employee-owned company has more than 90 offices
worldwide. Black & Veatch is ranked on the Forbes “500 Largest Private
Companies in the United States” listing. The company’s Web site address is www.bv.com.
Media Contacts:
George Minter
Black & Veatch
913-458-8001
minterga@bv.com
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