Engineering Achievement Award: East Valley Water District

Announcements, Resource Recovery

Project Partners: East Valley Water District (EVWD), Balfour Beatty with Arcadis, Ruhnau Clarke Architects, Trussel Technologies, and WSP

Name of Project: The Sterling Natural Resource Center

The Sterling Natural Resource Center (SNRC) integrates innovative technologies, a multi-benefit approach, and a focus on maximizing resources to design and construct a facility that models sustainable infrastructure development, setting a high standard for water resource management projects that go beyond industry standards.

The SNRC’s Administrative Center and Wastewater Recycling Facility reflects the leadership’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life, service, and water reliability through innovative, sustainable practices that work together.

The SNRC can recycle up to 8 mdg of wastewater by employing a combination of advanced technologies, including a Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) and Ultraviolet (UV) disinfection. The recycled wastewater serves as a drought-proof water supply for groundwater replenishment at the Bunker Hill Groundwater Basin, thereby supporting regional water sustainability and resilience.

The SNRC serves as an educational hub, offering tours and training programs to local students while fostering environmental awareness and developing a skilled workforce. The SNRC’s Administrative Center features a banquet hall and conference rooms that are available for local community members and organizations to host events.

The demonstration garden offers a new outdoor space for the community, featuring a picnic area, walking paths, and a display of water-efficient plants and trees. EVWD is committed to enhancing the community beyond its walls. Enhancements include new sidewalks, crosswalks, streetlights, and repaved streets.

“The project, an example of best-in-class design and construction, highlights the transformative power of purposeful leadership, collaborative planning, and innovative design in achieving sustainable infrastructure solutions.”

The SNRC’s compact design minimizes the physical footprint by merging treatment steps and removing large settling tanks, while providing high-quality effluent for reuse.

The SNRC employs advanced technologies to achieve net-zero energy by generating three megawatts of renewable energy from co-digesting wastewater sludge and regionally sourced food waste. This approach manages solid waste while boosting renewable energy production. By diverting food waste from landfills, it lowers carbon emissions and aligns with environmental sustainability goals.

The self-cleaning wetwell demonstrates a commitment to operational efficiency and maintenance. Acoustical studies led to the strategic redirection of noise, and the odor control system aligns with zoning regulations to minimize community impact.


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Nominate an outstanding clean water professional or agency—at awards.cwea.org.