BRANCH MEETING: APRIL 17, 2014

PASO ROBLES WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT UPGRADE
CITY OF PASO ROBLES, CALIFORNIA
SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY

To provide effective wastewater treatment, the City of Paso Robles is upgrading its aging wastewater treatment plant.  Most of the existing wastewater treatment plant is over 50 years old.  As a result, its treatment performance is declining and it has become expensive to maintain. Water quality regulations have become very stringent. To protect the Salinas River, the Regional Water Quality Control Board requires the City to reduce its discharge of pollutants such as ammonia and nitrate.

Construction of the $36.4 million upgrade began 1 year ago and is now 50% complete.  Currently about $2 million of work is being completed each month. The overall schedule is 30 months but the 1st phase, which accounts for nearly all of the new treatment facilities and the new Operations Building, is to be completed within the first 22 months.

The sewage never stops!  Construction of the upgrade must be completed while the existing plant continues to operate.  This requires extensive planning and operational coordination to phase construction and develop temporary bypasses to keep sewage flowing while new facilities are constructed. 

Steve Wrightson, of The Covello Group, is the Construction Manager for the project.  Covello is a professional services firm that specializes in construction management of wastewater, water, recycled water, municipal buildings, and solid waste projects for municipalities and special districts.  Steve has worked in the engineering profession with an emphasis in construction since 1977. He has a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from University of Maryland, is a Vice President of the firm.  His experience includes construction of water, wastewater, powerhouse, pipeline, flood protection, and industrial facilities.

Location:
City of Paso Robles Wastewater Treatment Plant
3200 Sulphur Springs Road
Paso Robles, CA 93446

Date & Time: 
Thursday, April 17 2014
12:00 PM

Cost: 
Members and Guests $20 by RSVP ($25 at the door)
Students $10
ASCE Life Members, complimentary lunch.

Menu: 
Buffet catered by Stein's BBQ & Catering including: caesar salad; citrus glazed baby back pork ribs & ale basted chicken with housemade bbq sauce; Stein's famous beans; sweet butter pamesan garlic bread; and mocha brownies.

Please RSVP by 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 14th, at the Branch web site (www.asceslo.org). Please attend the luncheon if you sign-up – some venues will charge the Branch for every seat we reserve, regardless of the actual attendance. If you have specific dietary restrictions or have questions, please contact Ryan Hayes, ASCE Secretary at rhayes@rickengineering.com or (805) 544-0707.

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Interested in sponsoring a future meeting?
A $200 donation to our scholarship fund will also bring you recognition at the meeting and in our newsletter following the meeting. Please contact Liz Moody at lizm@cannoncorp.us for more information.

ASCE Student Chapter 
Cal Poly SCE meets twice a month on Wednesday evenings. All members of ASCE are invited and encouraged to attend. Please see the SCE website for information regarding special events and ongoing activities.