Our company
CH2M HILL workplace wins two awards
For the fourth time ever and the second year in a row, CH2M HILL has been named to Fortune magazine's list of the " 100 Best Companies to Work For." The firm was highlighted for its employee-ownership culture and opportunities to work on cool projects. The full list and more information appears in the Feb. 2 issue of Fortune. In addition, CH2M HILL was one of four recipients of the 2009 Catalyst Award, which honors exceptional initiatives from companies that support and advance women in business. According to Catalyst, this year's winners "reflect true innovation and the success of a customized approach." Catalyst is a nonprofit that works globally with businesses to build inclusive workplaces and expand opportunities for women.
Sixth contract in Canadian county
The City of Sarnia in Lambton County, Ontario, has selected CH2M HILL OMI for operations and maintenance of its landfill leachate treatment facility. The facility was commissioned in 1990 after the landfill closed. Leachate, the liquid produced in a landfill from the decomposition of waste, is collected through a series of tiles and manholes that is then pumped to the treatment plant. The treatment plant is a conventional activated sludge facility with tertiary sand filtration that is discharged to a wetland. The work began Jan. 1, and it marks the sixth project in Lambton County for CH2M HILL OMI.
Consulting helps utilities address economic challenges
 More stringent regulations, increasingly complex technologies and other pressures are pushing up the operational costs of water and wastewater utilities, while the available funding has been trending down. How can utilities balance those operational challenges? Look to CH2M HILL. With our history of managing facilities at a lower cost and a higher level of performance, we collaborate with clients to streamline and improve their water and wastewater operations. Our O&M consulting services encompasses several solutions, such as process optimization, asset condition assessment, business process assessment, maintenance support and more. Clients can pick just the service or services they need. If your utility is interested in learning how O&M consulting experts could help your operation, contact your project manager or Senior Director of Technology Steve McNicol.
CH2M HILL showcases energy, water, sustainability solutions
Experts from CH2M HILL were among the international leaders in Abu Dhabi this week for the World Future Energy Summit. Along with serving as a platinum sponsor of the important event, the company exhibited its energy, water and sustainability capabilities. In addition, CH2M HILL leaders spoke about desalination, sustainable water systems, and transit systems. Visit the firm's WFES site for more information.
Our partners
Fayetteville earns prestigious partnership award
 The United States Conference of Mayors presented its annual Public/Private Partnership Awards earlier this week, and the City of Fayetteville, Ark., and CH2M HILL were among five winners. The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes the partnership between the city and company to promote sustainability at the wastewater facilities and around the city, encouraging other businesses and citizens to "think green." The City of Fayetteville and CH2M HILL OMI have been partners since 1987.
The Dalles earns five-year safe water award
Congratulations to The Dalles, Ore., and the city employees at the Wicks Water Treatment Plant for recently earning a five-year Directors Award from the Partnership for Safe Water. Created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, American Water Works Association and other drinking water organizations, the program's goal is to provide higher preventive measures for optimizing water treatment plant performance. To receive the Directors Award, The Dalles needed to show improved testing results and implement a rigorous self-evaluation policy. The Dalles has maintained Directors Award status for five consecutive years. CH2M HILL OMI has operated the city's wastewater plant since 1993.
Our communities
Canal cleanup in Idaho
 Employees in Twin Falls, Idaho, participated in the community's annual Adopt-A-Canal cleanup. Employees enjoyed showing their pride and care for the environment by pitching in to fill garbage bags with trash collected along the canal. To make the event a little more interesting, prizes were awarded for the best rubbish recovery. For nearly 25 years, CH2M HILL has operated and maintained the city's wastewater facility, industrial pretreatment facility, and eight remote lift stations. And for the past 15 years, the team has supported the Adopt-A-Canal project.
 Holiday sponsorship spurs sentiment
For the past few years, The Villages, Fla., employees have sponsored a neighborhood child through the annual Hugs and Wishes Foundation, which is a program designed to help make a local child's dream become a reality.
This year, they sponsored 12-year-old Addie, who has Down's syndrome. Addie requested an AmTryke – a tricycle specifically designed to allow children with disabilities to participate in daily exercise. CH2M HILL OMI has provided complete O&M of utility systems and public works for The Villages for 15 years.
Our industry
400,000 possible jobs through drinking water infrastructure investment
The American Water Works Association is asking Congress to include funding for drinking water infrastructure in the new stimulus plan. According to AWWA, more than $10 billion in drinking water infrastructure projects around the country are ready to get to work – as soon as funds are available. This means that more than 400,000 Americans would be put to work monitoring leaking pipes, treatment plants and storage reservoirs, among other needs. "Our water systems are critical to our public health and safety today and in the future, and there's no better way to put Americans to work," says AWWA deputy executive director Tom Curtis.
A call to ban cell phone use while driving
The National Safety Council has called on motorists to stop using cell phones and messaging devices while driving. It also has urged businesses and governments to prohibit the practice as well. "Studies show that driving while talking on a cell phone is extremely dangerous and puts drivers at a four times greater risk of a crash," said Janet Froetscher, NSC president and CEO. The NSC also pointed to studies from researchers that show that hands-free devices do not make it safe to use cell phones, and it said that many businesses have already adopted policies that ban cell phone use by employees while driving. CH2M HILL – an NSC member – implemented a no-cell-phone-while-driving policy last year. More NSC information is at distracteddriving.nsc.org.
Our people
Meet Lynn Kronowit, community outreach enthusiast
We strive to go above and beyond for our clients every day. A client in Rio Rancho, N.M., was so pleased with one employee's efforts to teach  children about water conservation that she wrote an article and submitted it to our employee newsletter. Lynn Kronowit, a 6-year CH2M HILL OMI employee, educates children and adults on water-wise practices that benefit the City of Rio Rancho and the entire region. Lynn helps out at Rio Rancho's annual Earth Festival and educates children in numerous after school programs. According to Rio Rancho, N.M., city employee Marian Wrage, "Lynn is an exemplary employee of CH2M HILL OMI and an integral part of the City’s water conservation outreach efforts." |
