Developing holistic and adaptable plans for the management and delivery of optimal and efficient water and wastewater infrastructure projects requires an understanding and knowledge of the natural and built environment, topography, resources, socioeconomic and even political factors. This includes retrofitting existing infrastructure to ensure systems can cope with the forthcoming demands of climate change.
WSP provides integrated water resources planning, design and engineering, and management to optimize solutions for water supply, alternative sources, storm water and wastewater management and reuse of reclaimed wastewater. We also have experience in advanced water treatment technologies, including desalination of seawater and brackish water, and zero-effluent discharge systems for power facilities.
Our water and wastewater infrastructure project experience spans the planning, design and construction management of large diameter pipelines, sewers, outfalls, water and force mains; separate and combined collection systems; pump and overpressure stations; flow control facilities; and special structures related to the storage, transmission and conveyance of raw water, potable water, wastewater, storm water and reclaimed water. We also provide modelling, analysis, design and construction management services.
Pasto water and wastewater masterplan, colombia
WSP provided Empopasto (entity in charge of the water and wastewater services in Pasto, Colombia) a full diagnosis of the supply, treatment, distribution and sewer systems, and developed hydrological and river quality studies to identify existing bottlenecks and primary problems related to the public water services provided to the community.
Taking in account growth tendencies, climate change and new technologies, WSP then developed feasibility studies and built a 30-year investment plan identifying the main projects needed to guarantee proper water supply, distribution and disposal services in the short and long term.
Water for Agriculture
A growing world population and rising consumption of natural resources place increased demands on agricultural systems charged with supplying global communities reliable and nutritious food. A core element of the agri-sector solution lies in using new technologies and expanding infrastructure to provide a reliable water supply at an appropriate quality standard for crop and animal production. Fit for purpose infrastructure is essential for rural enterprises to function in an efficient, effective and compliant manner—both on-farm and throughout the supply chain.
In New Zealand, WSP has a long history of applying skills and expertise to agri-sector infrastructure projects. From government policy support, land use studies and irrigation scheme concepts, to detailed design, funding, consenting, contractor procurement, asset management and performance optimization, the WSP Water for Agriculture team has established a track record for delivering infrastructure solutions from start to finish.
WSP in Colombia also has a long history in Water for Agriculture. With more than 120,000 ha designed, we are one of the preferred allies for the public and private sector for developing irrigation and land development projects for agriculture.
WSP’s work also extends to external market evaluations, in which the team identifies multiple opportunities.
Areas of Expertise
WSP areas of expertise include:
- Bridges, culverts and underpasses
- Power and water
- Rural buildings and processing facilities
- Irrigation schemes
- Farm infrastructure
- Surveying (UAV and ground)Farm mapping
- Constructed wetlands and riparian planting plans, often referred to as Natural or Environmental Infrastructure
When standard processes do not exist and individualized approaches are required, WSP develops innovative, client-focused, cost-effective, long-term solutions to help plan, invest and manage water infrastructure for the future. Our multidisciplinary team of engineers, scientists, economists/social scientists and project managers has worked closely with clients, including public and private sector companies, municipalities, governments and international organizations to design the best infrastructure to fit their needs.
Water Conserv II, Florida, US
WSP’s ongoing work as engineering consultant for the Water Conserv II project in Orange County, Florida, US is a case in point. When faced with a need to expand wastewater treatment service and a regulatory requirement to eliminate wastewater discharges to surface waters, the City of Orlando and Orange County formed a long-term partnership to develop Water Conserv II, an innovative water reclamation and reuse program.
Water Conserv II—the largest project in the world of its type— turned a potential liability into a beneficial resource by providing 35 MGD of reclaimed water for agricultural and residential irrigation and aquifer recharge, while providing an environmentally sound and economically feasible regional solution to previously discharged wastewater effluent. For more than 25 years, WSP has been providing water resources services for planning, permitting, design, construction management, operations and system maintenance.
ASH LANE STORM WATER DETENTION TANK, WIDNES, UK
To improve the quality of a water course in Widnes, UK, United Utilities commissioned WSP to develop an underground 16,500 m3 detention tank to reduce discharge of storm sewage from combined sewer overflows. WSP developed a precast, rectangular, concrete tank of modular design measuring 135 m x 42.1 m x 3 m-high—a UK first for a large, storm detention tank. The approach taken not only provided the client with the lowest whole-life cost—with an initial capital savings of around £1 M—but also generated a shorter construction program with less noise, dust, vibration and site traffic impacting the local community. The scheme was shortlisted in the Large Project category of the 2017 ICE North West Awards.
logan water alliance, logan, australia
In Australia, WSP has been supporting Logan City Council through network planning, engineering design, environmental approvals and program management on its Logan Water Infrastructure Alliance. The project is one of the country’s largest water infrastructure delivery programs, delivering new and improved water, wastewater and recycled water infrastructure to support the growing population of the Logan District. This includes extending high standard water services to communities that have not previously had access to them, as well as installing sustainable infrastructure wherever possible to minimize lifecycle costs, greenhouse gas emissions, overflows, odours and other environmental impacts.
Lorne Park Water Treatment Plant, Ontario, canada
WSP provided consulting services to Ontario’s Regional Municipality of Peel in Canada on the design and construction of the $200 million Lorne Park Water Treatment Plant capacity expansion. As a result of strong growth in the region, a review of the Water and Wastewater Servicing Master Plan (2005) concluded that Lorne Park Water Treatment Plan capacity must be increased from 347 mL/d to 500 mL/d. The retrofit combines traditional approaches with new technologies to achieve high levels of treatment and the expansion capacity to service population growth until 2031. Lorne Park received several awards, including an ACEC Award in Excellence for merging existing and new technology, while providing uninterrupted high-quality drinking water to the region.
