The Design-Build Institute of America has recognized the Bonita Springs Utilities (BSU) (www.BSU.us) East Water Reclamation Facility with a National Design-Build Award.

The award, announced during the 2008 Design-Build Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, was presented to representatives of BSU and CH2M Hill, which coordinated the design, permitting, construction and commissioning of the facility.

Awards were given in 13 categories to 30 projects from across the country. Winning projects were honored for innovation, unique solutions for project challenges, and the successful application of design-build principles, including collaboration in the early stages of the project and the acceptance of single-entity risk.

“Our staff was made an integral part of the design-build project team and was actively involved in making decisions to maximize value and minimize plant-operating costs throughout all phases of the project,” said BSU Director of Engineering Mike Liggins. “CH2M Hill delivered the project on schedule and within budget.

The East Water Reclamation Facility has the capacity to treat 4 million gallons of wastewater per day and works with BSU’s original wastewater-treatment facility to process the wastewater produced by more than 30,000 homes and businesses in BSU’s 60-square-mile service area.

The new facility is designed to be expanded to a capacity of 16 million gallons per day, enough to serve the needs of the Bonita Springs area through build-out.