SWRF IPS Expansion and Upgrade Earns ACEC Florida Honor Award
Posted December 11, 2024
CHA Consulting, Inc. (CHA) has earned an Honor Award from ACEC Florida for the South Water Reclamation Facility (SWRF) Influent Pump Station (IPS) Expansion and Upgrade. This recognition highlights CHA’s innovative approach to tackling critical infrastructure challenges for Central Florida's growing population.
The SWRF IPS plays a vital role in Orange County Utilities’ (OCU) wastewater management operations. However, aging infrastructure and operational inefficiencies at the existing station had begun to pose significant risks. OCU partnered with CHA to deliver a robust solution to expand the facility’s capacity while improving reliability and reducing maintenance demands.
CHA’s design for the new IPS incorporates dual self-cleaning wet wells and six 31-million-gallon-per-day (MGD) pumps, with provisions for two additional pumps to meet future needs. The state-of-the-art design significantly enhances operational efficiency by discharging grit and debris more effectively to the plant’s headworks, preventing the accumulation that plagued the previous system. The upgraded IPS delivers an impressive 200-MGD capacity, providing reliable performance during Hurricanes Ian and Nicole in 2023 and Helene and Milton in 2024.
Read more about the South Water Reclamation Facility Influent Pump Station Expansion and Upgrade.
ACEC Florida’s annual Engineering Excellence Awards recognize projects that embody ingenuity, complexity, and a commitment to societal benefit. The 2025 award winners, including CHA, will be celebrated during a banquet on February 7, 2025, in Orlando.
About ACEC Florida
ACEC Florida advocates for the engineering profession, fostering innovation and excellence across the state. Each year, its Engineering Excellence Awards honor projects that advance infrastructure, sustainability, and community well-being. Top recipients are eligible for the national ACEC competition, where they compete for the prestigious Grand Conceptor Award. Learn more at ACEC Florida’s website.