The city of Lawrence, Kansas, has awarded a $70 million contract to McCarthy’s Water Services team to improve the Kansas River Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The plant opened in 1956 and receives 80% of the city’s wastewater. It’s also responsible for processing and discharging the treated wastewater that comes through it as an end-of-the-line facility.
The project will be delivered using the Construction Manager at Risk method, said William Brennan, project manager for McCarthy.
“This is the city’s first wastewater project using CMAR delivery, which will be an asset since it fosters more flexibility for the city along with a collaborative team environment and provides a seamless improvement process while maintaining plant operations,” said Brennan in a press release.
The work will include:
- Replacing major motor control centers and upgrading electrical equipment, including transferring from city-owned transformers to utility-owned transformers.
- Building a new Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition facility with a new fiber loop.
- Converting a chlorine contact basin into a new UV facility, which utilizes a different disinfectant process that is more environmentally friendly and sustainable.
- Upgrading grit handling equipment to current standards as well as additional upgrades, including valve replacements.
Black & Veatch are the consultants on the project, and McCarthy is currently looking for trade partners, according to the release. The contractor is expecting to start preconstruction in 2023 and finish work by 2026.
