East Water Valley District (EWVD, District) proudly announces its recognition with the prestigious Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award for Excellence by the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) for its state-of-the-art Sterling Natural Resource Center (SNRC). The award recognizes public water agency projects or programs that demonstrate success in addressing water industry issues, commitment to water use efficiency, and excellence in agency management and operations.
The SNRC is a multi-beneficial wastewater treatment facility that combines advanced treatment technologies to recycle up to 8 million gallons of wastewater per day, produce on-site renewable energy, provide new community green spaces, and offer benefits to residents beyond water resiliency. The recycled water from the SNRC replenishes the local Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, which is at historically low levels and serves as a water source for over 650,000 residents in the region, including Highland and San Bernardino.
"We are deeply honored to receive the Clair A. Hill Water Agency Award," said Michael Moore, East Valley Water District General Manager/CEO. "This recognition is testament to the District's commitment and dedication to constructing a facility that combines the most advanced technology in the industry to recycle water and provide a sustainable water solution for our community."
The facility's advanced technologies include a multi-step rigorous treatment process using membrane bioreactors (MBR) and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technology, odor control systems, and co-digestion technology that transforms imported organic waste into 3 megawatts of renewable electricity. The energy generated will help power the facility, reflecting the District's commitment to stewardship and maximizing resources.
"Receiving this award is a tremendous honor and represents the dedication and hard work of East Valley Water District and the project's design-build partners," said James Morales Jr., EVWD Chairman of the Board. The Sterling Natural Resource Center stands as a shining example of how wastewater treatment facilities can be designed to go beyond industry standards and blend with the community they serve."
The SNRC construction was executed using progressive design-build by Balfour Beatty that included Arcadis, lead designer and engineer-of-record, Ruhnau Clarke Architects, architect-of-record, and Anaergia, project co-digestion lead.
The Sterling Natural Resource Center is a $250 million project funded by a variety of sources. Low interest loans, grants, and regional infrastructure partnerships have been provided in full or in part by the Proposition 1- the Water Quality, Supply, and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014, the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, Urban Greening Grant, and San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District- Regional Recycled Water Program.
The SNRC's wastewater treatment facility and Administrative Center are situated on a 20-acre parcel of land, with the treatment facility located on the eastern property and the Administrative Center on the western parcel. For more information about the SNRC and its community benefits, please visit eastvalley.org/SNRC.
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About East Valley Water District East Valley Water District (EVWD) was formed in 1954 and provides water and wastewater services to over 108,000 residents within the City of Highland and portions of both the City and County of San Bernardino. EVWD operates under the direction of a 5-member elected Board. More information is available at www.eastvalley.org.
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