Black & Veatch Begins Work on New Groundwater Supply Source for St. Louis

Black & Veatch announced has begun work on a project to develop a new groundwater supply source for the city of St. Louis. When completed, the new water source will deliver up to 240 mgd of groundwater to the Chain of Rocks Water Purification Plant for treatment and distribution to customers in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

“This project is an important first step in establishing a consistent water source for our customers,” said David Visintainer, St. Louis water commissioner and director of public utilities. “The new groundwater supply will help satisfy anticipated future regulatory requirements, reduce treatment costs and provide us with a safe drinking water supply. We are pleased to have Black & Veatch join us as we initiate this important project for the residents of St. Louis.”

Black & Veatch is currently preparing a groundwater supply master plan for phased implementation of the proposed new well field and transmission pipelines as part of a contract for engineering services to build the first phase of the project that will deliver approximately 50 mgd of groundwater to the treatment plant. The master plan is scheduled for completion in March 2007.

“This is the beginning stage of what will ultimately be one of the largest municipal groundwater supply development projects in the U.S.,” said John Schilling, Black & Veatch project manager. “In addition to its scope, the project is located on a historical and geographically important site. Our goal is to adapt these major water system improvements, with special emphasis on their aesthetics, so that they will blend into the natural surroundings of this environmentally sensitive area.”

The Chain of Rocks Plant was originally constructed in 1894 and is located on the west bank of the Mississippi River, five miles south of its confluence with the Missouri River. The plant is operated by the St. Louis Water Division and has the capacity to produce up to 300 mgd of purified drinking water from raw Mississippi River water supply. The proposed groundwater supply is located in the Columbia Bottom area at the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, the two largest rivers in North America.

Source: Black & Veatch