Asset management was a key driver in the Gresham, Ore., City Council's recent vote to award a seven-year, $21 million wastewater services contract to Veolia Water North America - West LLC (Veolia Water).
The public-private partnership calls for Veolia Water to manage Gresham's wastewater treatment system that serves approximately 106,000 people and receives domestic, commercial and industrial wastewater from Gresham and neighboring communities. The wastewater treatment system includes a 20 million-gallon-per-day treatment plant, biosolids management program, cogeneration operation, laboratory services and nine lift stations.
"Our sound technical program is what convinced the city to go with Veolia Water," said Chibby Alloway, president, Veolia Water North America - West LLC. "Asset management, central to our plan in Gresham, is gaining traction with many cities across the country as they increasingly understand that managing their water and wastewater assets through a technically based life-cycle approach will ultimately lead to lower overall costs, greater asset life and improved reliability of their water and wastewater facilities."
Veolia Water's proposed asset management program was a factor that Gresham leaders weighed heavily in their decision because it meant more reliable management of the city's $70 million wastewater asset. "The anticipated savings will far exceed the cost difference in proposals and will move Gresham forward in having a 'best-in-class' wastewater treatment system," said Dave Rouse, Gresham environmental services director.
In addition to the deployment of a comprehensive asset management program, Veolia Water plans other improvements such as automation of the dewatering system and enhancements to lift stations.
Source: Veolia Water North America
