Donohue & Associates and Illinois American Water Company (ILAWC) in Peoria, IL received a 2018 Engineering Excellence Merit Award for the “Electrical Modernization of 20-mgd Water Facility” project from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Illinois . 

The project goals at Peoria were to improve electrical and hydraulic reliability and design improvements to enhance the High Service Pumping Station at Illinois American’s 20-million-gallon-per-day Main Station Water Treatment Facility.

The $6.2M project refurbished a previously removed vertical turbine high service pump to resolve pumping deficiencies, upgraded the electrical distribution system from 2.4 kV to 13.2 kV to meet current standards, provided electrical redundancy for continuous water operations, located equipment to minimize flooding potential, and fit the improvements on a tight site while preserving the building’s historic elements. The project included a first-of-its-kind communication system between the switchgear, power sources, and SCADA system.

Engineering Excellence awards recognize quality engineering achievements. Project entries are judged based on excellence in design, the degree to which the client’s needs are met, innovation, as well as benefit to public welfare and engineering practices.