WWTP Improvements Southwestern Consolidated School District

Shelby County, Indiana 

The Problem

The Southwestern Consolidated School District (SWCSD) needed to replace its existing Steel Packaged Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) serving the School System in Shelby County, Indiana. The existing packaged plant was aged and corroded to the point that it was financially implausible to repair.

The Solution

Commonwealth Engineers’ goal was to build the plant during the summer of 2016 while school was out. With this timeframe, we had to act quickly, keeping the schedule a priority. The Design-Build process provided the flexibility to move forward quickly and efficiently, providing the desired quality of the end product.

The One Water Algae Wheel Waste Water Treatment System is a relatively new process, and OneWater was eager to provide the system at a substantial discount if installed in 2016. The Algae Wheel System won out in the end with its energy savings, reduced maintenance cost, aesthetics, and ease of operation. The Algae Wheel system also uses superior materials with concrete tanks preferred over the alternative standard steel packaged plant.

  • The system is more energy efficient than alternatives, offers lower maintenance costs, an enclosed working environment for staff, and a longer life expectancy with superior construction materials.
  • The existing packaged plant space will be re-purposed after demolition.
  • The Algae Wheel process provides an aesthetically pleasing treatment process compared to a standard steel plant.

This project was one of 22 projects recognized by ACEC of Indiana for Engineering Excellence. Additionally, of those 22, this was one of only six projects recognized for wastewater engineering.

Congratulations to Senior Project Manager Toby Church, PE, CEA!

Additional Projects

Wastewater
Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements – Greenfield, Indiana
Project Need Originally constructed in the 1960s, updated and expanded through the 2000s Includes one (1) main activated sludge wastewater treatment facility and two (2) trains of Actiflo high-rate settling… Read More
Wastewater
West Side Interceptor Improvements – Richmond, Indiana
Project Highlights Replace gravity sewers Collection system improvements Reduce combined sewer overflows Project Description The Richmond Sanitary District recently finished constructing over $6 million in collection system improvements, which involved… Read More
Wastewater
Wastewater Treatment Improvements – Syracuse, Indiana
The Problem Commonwealth was hired to investigate and provide solutions to an underperforming wastewater treatment system for their oxidation ditches, which was also impacting performance in their clarifiers, requiring frequent… Read More
Potable Water
Water System Improvements – Flora, Indiana
Water System Improvements Town of Flora, Indiana Commonwealth Engineers worked with the Town of Flora on a two-part project to make improvements to their water system. Division “A” – Water… Read More
Wastewater
Long Term Control Plan Improvements – Crown Point, Indiana
Commonwealth Engineers performed a Long Term Control Plan improvements for the City of Crown Point. It included: ANDERSON POND PROJECT The Crown Point Anderson Pond Project is a Long Term… Read More
Wastewater
Long Term Control Plan & Sewer System Modeling – Madison, Indiana
Long Term Control Plan & Sewer System Modeling City of Madison, Indiana Commonwealth Engineers performed a Value Engineering / Alternatives Assessment of the City’s CSO Collection System Improvements Project. Coordinated… Read More
Potable Water
Water System Improvements Project – West Terre Haute, Indiana
A Preliminary Engineering Report and Environmental Report were conducted to address West Terre Haute’s water system concerns.  Reports were completed in compliance with USDA Rural Development/State Revolving Fund Standards to… Read More
Wastewater
Long Term Control Plan Improvements Project – Nappanee, Indiana
Long Term Control Plan Improvements Project City of Nappanee, Indiana CSO Interceptor and Wet Weather Treatment and Storage Facilities Project This project provides collection and treatment of excessive combined sewage… Read More
Wastewater
Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements – Fairmount, Indiana
Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements Town of Fairmount, Indiana Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. performed value engineering and construction oversight/inspection for the noted WWTP Improvements Project. Efforts commenced with our Value Engineering (VE)… Read More