CDM Smith Wins $31.5M Water Reclamation Design-Build Project in Southern California

ELSINORE VALLEY, Calif.—The Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District is upgrading and expanding its aging Horsethief Canyon Water Reclamation Facility to improve treatment reliability and capacity. The district selected CDM Smith for a $31.5 million fixed price design-build project that will provide reliable and affordable service to existing customers while cost-effectively accom­mo­dat­ing new development in the area.

CDM Smith’s solution involves construc­tion of a new, independent water reclamation facility that will use membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment to provide the best value for the full treatment capacity of 0.8 million gallons per day. The design is slated to be completed in March 2022, aiming to bring the facility online by summer 2023.

As an integrated design-builder, CDM Smith will help the district meet its goals through start-up, training and commis­sion­ing, enabling cost efficiency, trans­parency and certainty through well-informed and timely decisions. Challenging factors of the project include the fast-tracked schedule and careful sequencing to maintain operations at the existing facility during construc­tion. CDM Smith’s delivery approach includes deliberate and collab­o­ra­tive involvement of stake­hold­ers, especially district O&M personnel, and 3D modeling to obtain buy-in of the design while maintaining project schedule.

With CDM Smith’s help, the district will provide superior water quality in a compact footprint at the lowest capital and energy costs. This will be achieved through the facility’s MBR layout, which incor­po­rates membrane filtration with biological treatment process for nutrient removal. The new facility will address changes in permitting require­ments now and in the future and will be operator-friendly, leveraging automation for convenient, remote monitoring.

Furthermore, it will produce a higher quality effluent for non-potable reuse, such as irrigation of the local green areas or groundwater recharge. This is incredibly valuable in southern California, where groundwater supply is scarce.

Construc­tion will be managed out of CDM Smith’s Rancho Cucamonga design-build center with nearly 270 California-based engineers, construc­tion profes­sion­als and operators supporting the project, along with the full backing of the firm’s worldwide profes­sion­als.

CDM Smith is a privately owned engineering and construc­tion firm providing legendary client service and smart solutions in water, environment, trans­porta­tion, energy and facilities. Passionate about our work and invested in each other, we are inspired to think and driven to solve the world’s envi­ron­men­tal and infra­struc­ture challenges.