Quality Assurance and Quality Control - Design-Build for Water and Wastewater Projects - page 267

Project: Johns Creek Environmental Campus
Owner: Fulton County, Georgia
Design-Build (DB) Entity: Archer Western Contractors Ltd. (prime
contractor) and Brown and Caldwell (lead designer)
Completion Date: November 2009
Description of Project
The Johns Creek Environmental Campus (JCEC) is a $138 million, 15-mgd
(57-ML/d) membrane bioreactor (MBR) water reclamation facility. The project was
successfully implemented by working directly with homeowners and the homeown-
ers' association to address a multitude of concerns associated with constructing a
new wastewater plant in a highly visible, historic, and affluent suburban area. The
wastewater plant emits noise below the background level of noise and has no detect-
able odor or intrusive lighting. These were key performance criteria. All equipment
is housed indoors, with silencers and sound enclosures installed around most of the
equipment. The odor control system is the most advanced in the state.
The JCEC treats wastewater to a quality that is suitable for distribution as reuse
water. The reuse water is currently used for toilet flushing, fire protection, and pro-
cess water in the facility and irrigation. The JCEC incorporates numerous features
that provide flexibility for operating in various treatment modes with treatment
redundancy. The facilities meet stringent effluent limits (i.e., CBOD = 2.9 mg/L,
P = 0.13 mg/L, NH 3 = 0.5 mg/L, and N = 8 mg/L).
By using advanced technology, underground facilities, and shared-wall con-
struction (i.e., not separate structures), the plant footprint is less than 5 acres. Similar
facilities require 20 acres or more.
Architecturally, the building design was inspired by a historic mill and includes
a public park, 30 acres of nature trails, a replica historical covered bridge, two ponds,
a flowing stream (using reuse water), and an 8,000-ft 2 facility used to educate school-
children about the impact of water quality on the environment.
The design-builder was challenged with designing, permitting, building, and
completing a 120-day commissioning period within a 40-month time frame. To com-
press the schedule, the design-builder developed 14 design packages that were sub-
mitted and approved separately by all necessary parties. The first package was a
land disturbance package. Earthwork began less than 4 months after the notice to
proceed. This was followed by several below-grade structural packages; above-grade
structural packages; and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing packages. The final
packages were for work away from the main superstructure, such as near the influent
and effluent lines, and the landscaping. This approach allowed for significant over-
lap between the completion of design and the start of construction.
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