Baltimore Hires Fru-Con Construction to Expand its Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant
The construction company won two contracts for a total of $138.7 million.
Fru-Con Construction has been awarded two contracts totaling $138.7 million to improve and expand the Patapsco Wastewater Treatment Plant for the city of Baltimore. It is the first time the city of Baltimore has done business with Fru-Con.
With a current capacity of 73 million gallons per day (MGD), the circa-1920 plant processes about 25 percent of the wastewater the region creates. Fru-Con’s work will boost the plant’s average capacity to more than 80 MGD and its peak capacity to 150 MGD. The first contract, totaling $116 million, calls for Fru-Con to construct 34 denitrification filters, a methanol feed facility, underground utilities, and truck weigh scales; relocate an existing odor control facility and electric generator system; and install multiple HVAC, plumbing, video surveillance, and fire alarm systems. Fru-Con also was awarded a $22.7 million contract for Patapsco’s new Enhanced Nutrient Removal (ENR) facility, which will improve the existing primary and secondary process treatment systems, utility works, and site lighting.
Slated for completion in 2012, the work will deploy the largest fixed-film denitrification system in the world, according to Severn Trent Services of Fort Washington, Penn. Severn manufactures the TETRA Denite wastewater discharge solution selected for use at Patapsco by Baltimore-based consulting engineer Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP. The tertiary treatment system promises to reduce the total nitrogen discharge of the plant by more than 80 percent and its total phosphorous discharge by 90 percent.
Fru-Con will keep the plant operational during construction by rerouting potable water, sanitary, storm drain, electrical, and plant water lines to the perimeter of the property. The bypass systems will remain in service for 12 to 18 months when newly installed permanent lines will be opened.
Founded in 1872, Fru-Con is the 10th-oldest contractor in the United States. A member of Bilfinger Berger SEa leading international multi services group for industry, real estate and infrastructure based in Germany, Fru-Con provides construction services in four primary markets: environment, heavy industrial, institutional, and government. The firm is based in Woodbridge, Va.