Our company
CH2M HILL dedicates new San Diego water plant
 Earlier this month, CH2M HILL helped the San Diego County Water Authority dedicate the world’s largest submerged-membrane water treatment plant. SDCWA awarded the $157 million design-build-operate contract to CH2M HILL in 2005, which includes $6 million in annual O&M services. Called one of our firm’s “landmark projects,” the 100-million-gallon-per-day plant in the Twin Oaks Valley will be operated and maintained by CH2M HILL OMI staff for the next 15 years. Celebrating the dedication, from left to right, are Fern Steiner, chair of the SDCWA board of directors; Margaret Ferguson, director of the Vallecitos Water District and an SDCWA director; Maureen Stapleton, SDCWA general manager; and Mark Lasswell, president of CH2M HILL’s Civil Infrastructure Client Group.
Staff reach 2,000 days of safety at DuPont
The CH2M HILL OMI team at DuPont’s Spruance manufacturing facility in Richmond, Va., hit a milestone last month of 2,000 days without a DuPont or Occupational Safety and Health Administration recordable incident. That’s 5 1/2 years of great safety performance! CH2M HILL OMI people operate and maintain the industrial wastewater treatment system, and the staff honored the 2,000th safe day with a small celebration April 21. A larger event is planned for later this summer.
Prescott Valley renews partnership
Council members for the Town of Prescott Valley, Ariz., unanimously approved a new five-year contract with CH2M HILL OMI. Building on 15 years of partnership, CH2M HILL OMI will continue to operate and maintain the Prescott Valley water system, a 3.75-mgd wastewater treatment plant, a 250-mile collection system, and the reclaimed water and recharge system. “We appreciate the excellent service that CH2M HILL OMI has provided to our community over the years, and we look forward to working with the team in the years to come,” says Neil Wadsworth, utilities director for Prescott Valley. More good news: The Arizona Water & Pollution Control Association honored Prescott Valley with the Water System of the Year Award in its category – an award CH2M HILL OMI employees earned last year as well.
A tip of the hat to water, wastewater plants in Texas
Safety is a star at the water and wastewater treatment systems that CH2M HILL OMI operates for 10 cities in Texas. The National Safety Council recently recognized staff with 15 awards:
- Del Rio, Donna and Georgetown: each received a Perfect Record Award.
- Lampasas, Pampa, San Marcos, Stephenville and Weslaco: each received both the Perfect Record Award and Occupational Excellence Achievement Award.
- Mercedes: Occupational Excellence Achievement Award.
- Temple: Safety Leadership Award, for facilities with five consecutive “Perfect Record” years.
The Perfect Record Award recognizes facilities with at least 12 consecutive months without an occupational injury or illness that have resulted in days away from work. The Occupational Excellence Achievement Award recognizes facilities that have fewer reported injuries and illnesses than comparable businesses.
Our communities
Working to give life through Water For People
 CH2M HILL employees around the world are working hard this month to raise money for Water For People, a global nonprofit that provides clean water and sanitation solutions in developing countries. Whether it’s collecting money coin-by-coin in a bucket, sponsoring a fundraiser or donating online, the company’s sixth annual giving campaign encourages employees to do what they can to make a difference. At CH2M HILL OMI’s Denver office, for example, employees held an “H 20 Challenge,” asking people to not buy coffee or soda and donate that money to a Water For People bucket instead.
Scout troop gets the scoop in Pennsylvania
Helping educate kids about the importance of water and environmental issues is important to our company – as demonstrated once again last month at the industrial pretreatment facility we operate for Lehigh County, Pa. A troop of Cub Scouts visited the plant to learn how wastewater is processed and cleaned. The troop watched an educational video, asked lots of questions, and received an extensive tour. According to the den leader, “I really think this field trip is one of the highlights of the year ... The boys enjoyed it and learned a lot about water and what it takes to keep it clean.” Since 1995, CH2M HILL OMI has operated the 5.75-mgd facility, while also supporting a program to accept and treat concentrated wastes from various local industries.
Our partners
Fayetteville wastewater plant recognized for sustainability
 The eco-friendly practices deployed at the Paul R. Noland Wastewater Treatment Plant in Fayetteville, Ark., helped the facility earn top honors in the 2007 Arkansas Environmental Stewardship Award program. Presented annually by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, the award program – nicknamed the ENVY Award – recognizes citizens, facilities or organizations in five categories for efforts to enhance and protect the environment. The Noland plant was the top project in the sustainability category and a finalist for the overall 2007 ENVY Award. CH2M HILL OMI has operated and maintained the plant since 1987. Shown here from left to right are ADEQ director Teresa Marks; David Jurgens, the city’s water and wastewater director; and Duyen Tran, CH2M HILL OMI project manager.
Elm event in Milton celebrates environment
The City of Milton, Ga., marked National Arbor Day in April by gathering city officials, local students and citizens to plant a Princeton American Elm at a local park. The event called attention to the vital role that trees play in our environment – including absorbing carbon dioxide, filtering particulate pollution, preventing floods and keeping temperatures at livable levels – and it gave CH2M HILL OMI arborist Mark Law, third from left in the back, and Milton's City Council an opportunity to educate children about Arbor Day.
The Princeton American Elm, a shade tree that can reach 80 to 100 feet in height, is the tree that lines Pennsylvania Avenue in front of the White House. In addition to helping plant the elm, participants received a Green Ash seedling to take home and plant. CH2M HILL OMI has been Milton’s partner for municipal services since the city was founded in 2006.
Our people
Julius Scriven earns city’s ‘Employee of the Year’ award
 As part of its celebrations for Georgia Cities Week, the City of Richmond Hill, Ga., honored three Employees of the Year for their work to serve the city – and CH2M HILL OMI employee Julius Scriven won the award in the public works category. Julius received his award from Mayor Richard R. Davis during the city's annual employee appreciation luncheon April 22.
For the past two years, Julius has been an equipment operator in Richmond Hill, where CH2M HILL OMI has managed and delivered public works services since March 2000. According to project manager David Buchanan, who helped nominate Julius for the award, Julius is a “stellar guy” who has served as an example to others not only in his outstanding daily work performance but also in emergency situations.
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President’s perspective
It was easy for me to decide what I wanted to highlight this month – because right now the nation is celebrating National Public Works Week, observed May 18-24. The occasion is promoted by the American Public Works Association to honor “the tens of thousands of men and women in North America who provide and maintain the infrastructure and services collectively known as public works.”
And wow, do they deserve the honor. I’ve worked around municipal public works departments for many years. So like many of you, I know first-hand the tremendous importance of having dedicated people on hand around the clock, ready to keep our communities clean and functional in good times and safe and responsive during emergency situations.
A lot of those dedicated people are here at CH2M HILL OMI, since delivering a full range of public works services has been part of our portfolio since 1992. Today we have more than 525 employees involved in public works projects, serving 17 cities in Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, New Mexico and Oregon. Their work ranges from mowing to mosquito abatement, from conducting traffic signal studies to obtaining grants that can fund long-term transportation needs. And that’s often in addition to the primary public works service that CH2M HILL OMI has traditionally provided: water and wastewater operations, maintenance and management.
In the spirit of Public Works Week, thank you to all of our employees who work so hard every day to make cities and counties shine. More important, thank to you to all of the public works directors, utility managers, city and county managers, and other officials who allow our people to be a valued part of your teams and to serve your communities with pride.
Respectfully,
Elisa M. Speranza
President
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Conferences give us a great way to continue connecting with clients, sharing our technical expertise and supporting our industry. Plus, they’re fun! Here are some of the upcoming hot spots where you can meet CH2M HILL OMI: |
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May 30-June 2
June 4-6
Transforming Local Government
Greenville, S.C.
CH2M HILL OMI is a diamond sponsor of the event's sustainability keynote by Alex Steffen, executive editor at worldchanging.com.
June 4-8
June 8-12
American Water Works Association Annual Conference and Expo
Atlanta, Ga.
CH2M HILL OMI is the sole sponsor of Top Ops, a quiz bowl-style competition for water operators.
Attend a session on public-private partnerships to learn about our design-build-operate project in Ave Maria, Fla. Several CH2M HILL experts will be presenting papers.
June 17-20
June 18-20
June 20-24
June 21-24
June 23-26
June 25-27
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Clients in government and industry rely on the people of CH2M HILL OMI to provide a range of custom-tailored operations and maintenance solutions. The company’s services include water and wastewater system optimization; contract O&M of water, wastewater and other utilities; and complete municipal operations, including administration, public works and community development – all backed by a commitment to safety, quality, innovation and customer service. Founded by CH2M HILL in 1980, the Denver-based company serves clients in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
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