Reuse Project For New Mexico School District
PROJECT TYPE: Municipality, Agriculture
SERVICES: Project Planning & Management, and Construction
TECHNOLOGIES: Lagoons, Water Tanks, Controls
SUSTAINABLE / WATER REUSE: Reuse
HIGHLIGHTS
- Eliminated reliance on a more expensive community water supply system at El Rito Elementary.
- Reuse system at Mesa Vista Elementary recycles treated wastewater to irrigate the school’s athletic field.
- Construction of a 10,000 GPD recirculating sand filter and a 60,000-gallon cast-in-place concrete tank.
ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE WATER REUSE OPPORTUNITY
Integrated Water Services, Inc. (IWS) completed a water, wastewater, and reuse infrastructure construction project at two Mesa Vista Consolidated Schools in Northern New Mexico. The two schools are located fifteen miles apart and were constructed concurrently with different scopes of work. The project was part of the district’s facilities upgrade program for water and wastewater systems. The completed project resulted in key operational and cost-saving impacts for the school district.
CHALLENGES FACED
- Wastewater and Reuse System: Construction of a 10,000 GPD recirculating sand filter and a 60,000-gallon cast-in-place concrete tank at Mesa Vista Elementary. It also included subsurface irrigation piping under the athletic field and interior of the track area.
- Domestic Water System: A new 34,000-gallon above-ground water storage tank was constructed, complete with a booster pump and control system for the domestic water and fire lines at Mesa Vista Elementary.
- Water Supply Modification: The existing water supply system was modified to connect to an on-site well. IWS upgraded the pumps and control system, installed associated piping, a chlorination system, and remodeled the existing pump house at El Rito Elementary.
SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED
- Modified Construction Approach: The team implemented modifications to the construction approach, which eliminated the need for a canal crossing and its related infrastructure, yielding significant savings.
- Specification Adjustments: Modification of the liner specification for the lagoon and storage ponds.
- Operational and Size Reductions: The team achieved savings by reducing the size of the sludge drying bed , utilizing an owner provided generator , and realizing labor savings through collaboration with the owner’s operations staff during plant transitions.
OUTCOME AND IMPACT
- New Water Source and Cost Savings: At El Rito Elementary, the existing system was modified to connect to an on-site well, which eliminated the reliance on the more expensive community water supply system.
- Wastewater Reuse for Irrigation: The wastewater system at Mesa Vista Elementary was upgraded to allow for the reuse of recycled water to irrigate the school’s athletic field.
- Timely and Safe Completion: The entire project, including work in the harsh environment and was completed on schedule without any incidents.
Complex construction requirements were met by implementing tailored construction solutions, including a sophisticated wastewater reuse system at Mesa Vista Elementary and a water supply upgrade at El Rito Elementary. This dual-scope project was completed safely and on schedule, ultimately giving the school district independence from an expensive community water supply and securing a sustainable source for athletic field irrigation.
Reuse Project For New Mexico School District
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