Joint venture to extend multi-billion-dollar used-water “superhighway”

A joint venture between Black & Veatch and AECOM (NYSE: ACM) has been selected by PUB, Singapore’s national water agency, to provide engineering services for Phase 2 of the Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS).

The B&V AECOM (Black & Veatch and AECOM) joint venture team will work with PUB to shape one of the most significant and anticipated water projects in Asia.

Freeing up land for other higher-value developments, supporting the production of NEWater, improving energy efficiencies and potentially leveraging the water-energy-waste nexus are some of the key sustainability goals of DTSS Phase 2.

“The project’s vision underlines PUB’s innovation and global leadership in sustainable water solutions,” said Cindy Wallis-Lage, president of Black & Veatch’s water business.  “It is a privilege to team with AECOM and PUB in setting a new standard in reliable, flexible and energy-efficient infrastructure that promotes water sustainability for the future.”

“We have assembled a compelling joint venture team of world-class local and global experts, who look forward to delivering a sustainable infrastructure solution,” said Michael S. Burke, AECOM president and chief executive officer.  “We are honored to be a part of the DTSS project, which will enhance Singapore’s water sustainability and resilience — solidifying its place as a leader in the global water industry.”

DTSS Phase 2 will extend DTSS to the western side of Singapore through an 18.6-mile-long South Tunnel, nearly 44 miles of link sewers, the Tuas Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) and an estimated 7.5-mile deep-sea outfall.  The entire DTSS will result in a 50-percent reduction in land taken by used-water infrastructure with three centralized collection and treatment points: Changi WRP in the east; Kranji WRP in the north; and Tuas WRP in the west.

A NEWater factory will be integrated with the Tuas WRP and contribute to Singapore’s long-term goal of increasing NEWater production to meet up to 55 percent of its total water demand.  In addition, working with Singapore’s National Environment Agency, an integrated waste management facility will be co-located at the Tuas WRP site.  This offers potential opportunities to integrate used-water and solid-waste treatments to maximize energy and resource recovery.

The B&V AECOM (Black & Veatch and AECOM) joint venture will conduct a feasibility study and preliminary design as part of the first stage of the project.  As the lead consultant, the team will program manage the delivery of DTSS Phase 2 in the second stage of the project.  Supporting Black & Veatch and AECOM will be Ramboll, a leading consulting engineering company from Denmark, and KPMG.  During the course of the project, the team will also explore ways to collaborate on ideas with key tertiary institutions in Singapore.

The contract was signed today at a ceremony at Singapore International Water Week 2014, which included guest of honor, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, minister of Environment and Water Resources.

For more information on DTSS, please refer to the fact sheet here.

About Black & Veatch

Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building Critical Human Infrastructure™ in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services.  Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management.  Our revenues in 2013 were US$3.6 billion.  Follow us on www.bv.com …