American Water Works, CH2M HILL Projects Win Awards

American Water Works Co., said it was named Water Company of the Year at Global Water Intelligence’s Global Water Awards held  April 27 in Zurich, Switzerland.

American Water was recognized for being a leader in the water industry and its commitment to delivering water solutions. The award was accepted by President and Chief Executive Officer Don Correll following an address by former U.S. Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Al Gore.

“As the largest investor-owned U.S. water services company, American Water is very pleased to receive this international award,” said Correll. “Recognizing the many challenges our country faces in resolving major water and wastewater issues, American Water is proud to lead the way to delivering solutions. From desalination to infrastructure investment to curb water loss to partnerships with the public sector, we believe a collaborative and proactive approach is the best way to start and tackle what the EPA has described as a trillion-dollar challenge.”

Among American Water’s 2008 accomplishments cited by the Global Water Awards was its re-establishment of the financial strength and operational excellence of its regulated business as well as its management of the U.S.’s largest seawater desalination plant in Tampa Bay, securing two contracts with the U.S. military to provide water and wastewater services, completing the second largest IPO in the U.S. of the year, and launching a new customer communications strategy.

CH2M HILL, a global full-service engineering, procurement, construction, and operations firm had several of its projects earn high marks at the event.

PUB Singapore’s Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) was named Water Project of the Year and the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project was named Water Reuse Project of the Year.

The firm has been working with the PUB Singapore since 1997 to conceptualize, manage, and integrate the planning, design, and construction of one of the largest used water collection and treatment projects ever undertaken globally. CH2M HILL served as program manager for DTSS. The project is a major step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability of Singapore's water resources.

With its alliance partner Laing O’Rourke, the firm completed the design and construction of the Luggage Point Advanced Water Treatment Plant for the Queensland Government in Australia. One of the final phases of the Western Corridor Recycled Water Project -- the largest water recycling program in Australia -- the Luggage Point plant went online in October. The plant uses state-of-the-art technologies to produce potable water and industrial cooling water from secondary treated wastewater. The final phase of the program will secure vital water resources for the water-starved country.

The Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment plant in San Diego, Calif., designed, built, and operated by CH2M HILL, earned a second-place award for Water Project of the Year. The Clovis, Calif., Sewage Treatment and Water Reuse facility, designed, built and operated by CH2M HILL, was recognized with a certificate in the Reuse Project of the Year category.

“On behalf of CH2M HILL, I congratulate all of the award winners,” said Water Business Group President Bob Bailey. “The prestigious list of nominees showcases many of the clients we’ve worked with over the years. We’re honored to be in their company receiving this important recognition and are grateful to our industry for acknowledging our efforts and our continued commitment to excellence.”