Following the completion of the decade-long upgrade, SacSewer wins national
Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Silver Award
Sacramento, Calif. — The Sacramento Area Sewer District (SacSewer) is proud to announce that the EchoWater Project has been awarded the Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA) Silver Award from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). Recognized as an exemplary civil engineering project, this award underscores SacSewer’s commitment to sustainable water management and innovation.
“We are honored to receive this national recognition from ASCE,” said General Manager Christoph Dobson. “The EchoWater Project exemplifies our commitment to protection of public health and the environment and sets a high standard for excellence in utility management and environmental sustainability. This award reflects the hard work of our team and partners who were dedicated to bringing this project to life.”
Established in 1960, the OCEA awards annually honor the project that best illustrates superior civil engineering skills and represents a significant contribution to civil engineering progress and society. The EchoWater Project was one of 11 finalists that were judged on originality and innovation, resourcefulness in planning and solving design challenges, sustainability and resiliency considerations, and project planning and delivery.
About the EchoWater Facility
The EchoWater Facility, located near Elk Grove, CA, provides tertiary treatment for 1.6 million customers throughout the Sacramento region. Each day, an average of 151 million gallons of sewage is treated. Following the completion of the EchoWater Project, the EchoWater Facility now removes 99 percent of ammonia and 89 percent of nitrogen from sewage, resulting in cleaner water for discharge and recycled water uses.
In addition to sewage treatment, the EchoWater Facility focuses on recovering resources and protecting the environment. Through sustainable efforts in resource recovery, we maximize the reuse of treatment process by-products such as biogas (energy), biosolids (nutrients), and the treated water itself—in the form of recycled water.
