Upper Olentangy Water Reclamation Center

In 2004  Delaware County, Ohio was the fastest growing county in Ohio and the 11th fastest growing county in the nation. That same year, the City of Delaware voted to expand/upgrade the Upper Olentangy Water Reclamation Center (UOWRC), 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 the 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 City then went through procurement and selected the design/build team of HDR/Quest Engineers and Kokosing Construction Company, Inc.

The expansion/upgrade to the UOWRC was completed on schedule, Phase 1 construction, which focused on new structures, was placed into operation in May 2006. Phase 2 went online in May 2007. The project was constructed for it's negotiated price of $26 million.

All of the owner's objectives were met, including: 1) Protection of public health through the discharge of higher quality effluent into the Olentangy River which is classified “Exceptional Warm Water Habitat” and a “State Scenic River”. 2) Sustainable Biological Nutrient Removal System. 3) 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.