LOWELL -- Beaver Water District has selected Black & Veatch to begin design for its water treatment facilities expansion program, according to a company news release.
The expansion program is in response to significant regional population growth and corresponding increases in water demand. The anticipated capital cost is $540 million, according to the release.
The water district supplies drinking water sourced from Beaver Lake to Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville, which distribute the water to more than 370,000 people and industries in their cities and surrounding areas, according to the district website.
"As part of its 2023 master plan, the expansion program helps ensure BWD can provide its customers with safe, economical drinking water now and into the future," said Andrew J. Hansen, associate vice president and director of client services, governments and environment at Black & Veatch. "Our work with BWD serves as a catalyst to support northwest Arkansas with their water needs for years to come."
The all-encompassing program will expand capacity of supply and treatment from 140 million gallons per day to 220 gallons per day, renovate aging infrastructure, and expand water storage, pump stations, power generation and pipelines by 2032, according to the release.
Black & Veatch, based in Overland Park, Kan., has worked with the water district since 2007. Since that time, Black & Veatch developed the district's 2023 water plan and provided service on its $38 million western corridor pumping station project, according to the release.
In the western corridor expansion, the district will construct an approximately 7.5-mile-long treated water pipeline and pump station on the west side of Interstate 49 to accommodate growth in that area. The project has a target completion date in early 2026, according to the district website.
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned global engineering, procurement, consulting and construction company with a more than 100-year track record of innovation in sustainable infrastructure, according to the release.