Water/Wastewater INCREASED CAPACITY FOR GROWING POPULATION

INSIDE THE PROJECT

The City of Delaware voted to expand/upgrade the Upper Olentangy Water Reclamation Center originally constructed in 1926. Upgrades in 1974 and 1985 had increased capacity to 5.5 million gallons per day (MGD), but it was becoming increasingly difficult to meet growing demands while continuing to ensure the safe discharge of effluent into the Olentangy River, a scenic Ohio waterway. Convinced that a Design-Build delivery system would produce a superior project at a lower cost, the City changed their Charter to include Design-Build as another type of competitive bidding. The expansion/upgrade was completed on schedule.

WHY IT MATTERS

This project protects public health through the discharge of higher quality effluent into the Olentangy River which is classified as an “Exceptional Warm Water Habitat” and a “State Scenic River”. Kokosing provided the operational flexibility to accommodate a Peak Flow Rate of 30 MGD while eliminating the environmental impact of sewer overflows. Through the Design-Build approach, the City has a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment facility designed for operational efficiency and flexibility.