New Orleans, Louisiana

Challenge

After a year of studying the viability of an O&M contract with a private-sector provider, the Sewerage & Water Board (S&WB) in 1992 contracted the operation of its two wastewater treatment plants to Veolia Water. With a combined treatment capacity of 132 MGD, the project was at the time the largest under contract in the country. Serving a pre-Katrina population of 465,000, the project still remains one of the country's largest, with a combined capacity of 142 MGD - a 122-MGD pure oxygen secondary wastewater treatment plant and a 20-MGD trickling filter plant--as well as a 44 dry-ton-per day fluidized-bed incinerator. Under the contract, Veolia Water's scope of responsibilities includes capital improvements, hurricane recovery, septage receiving and biosolids disposal.

Solution

• Work with the S&WB to plan and supervise a $1.7 million capital improvements program.
• Work with regulatory agencies to satisfy their concerns about effluent non-compliance and emissions violations; actions included an intensive technical training program, initiation of process controls and treatment modifications.
• Approach increasing incinerator capacity in a way that reduced oxygen generation costs
• Mobilize vast resources from around the country to assist with plant restorations when hurricanes Rita and Katrina struck in 2005.
• Take broad range of actions to respond to hurricanes: dewatering and cleaning plant sites, rebuilding control room with modern SCADA system, rehabilitating eight clarifiers, replacing/repairing entire high/medium voltage electrical distribution system, replacing mechanical equipment; and completing repairs to the West Bank plant.

Results

• Achieved estimated savings of $15 million in terms of O&M costs over the first decade of the contract
• Contributed more than $1 million to community and civic groups.
• Helped improve the quality of life in the city and provided an engaged and involved work force.
• Conducted intensive training program and initiated process controls and treatment modifications that restored permit compliance.
• Completed in 2006 a $6 million capital improvements program for the city.
• Completing $47 million in hurricane recovery programs to restore East Bank plant and other facilities devastated by hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005.
• Acted as the city's agent, managing all FEMA interface during the hurricane recovery for the project.
• Mobilized a global aid effort through Veolia Waterforce that sent equipment and experts from across the world to provide clean water and help in facility recovery.
• Received numerous Gold and Silver Peak Performance awards from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for outstanding environmental compliance.
• Honored with the 2011 Infrastructure Award from the National Council for Public-Private Partnerships