Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant Design

Blog header

Fleis & VandenBrink (F&V) performs water and wastewater treatment plant assessment, design, and construction services. Our engineers have decades of experience working with municipalities and industrial clients on a broad range of water treatment technologies.

Whether you’re looking to complete a small feasibility study or a multi-million construction project, we’re here to help.

Our Water & Wastewater Treatment Plant Design Services

At Fleis & VandenBrink, we like to serve as a partner for our clients as we evaluate your existing infrastructure, plan for the future growth of your community, and tailor our services around your specific needs. Our engineers will identify key issues, take into account the latest regulations and treatment technology, and collaborate with your team to choose a cost-effective solution.

If you’re looking to replace infrastructure that is outdated or not delivering expected results, we can determine what improvements would need to be made in order to meet your needs as well as the latest regulatory requirements. Our engineers can also design an entirely new system using state-of-the-art, energy-efficient technology that will be beneficial for your community and the environment.

In addition to designing, constructing, and updating water and wastewater treatment plants, Fleis & VandenBrink also takes on smaller projects, such as pump stations and booster stations.

Among other water and wastewater treatment technologies, F&V’s staff demonstrated expertise in:

  • Physical & Chemical Treatment
  • Screening & Grit Removal
  • Suspended Growth Systems
  • Attached Growth Systems
  • Aerated & Facultative lagoons
  • Solids Separation Processes
  • Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sedimentation
  • Membrane Filtration, Sand Filtration, and Tertiary Filtration Systems
  • Disinfection Processes
  • Aerobic and Anaerobic Digestion
  • Solids Dewatering, Thickening, and Storage
  • Biogas Recovery and Combined Heat & Power (CHP)
  • Wetland Systems

Our Process

When you reach out to our engineering team to discuss your project, the first thing we do is work to identify your unique needs and goals. Once we understand the specifics of your project, we can start looking at options for funding, including funds on hand, as well as state, federal, and open-market funding. Depending on the size of your project, the planning and funding process can take about a year.

After funding has been obtained, our engineers can start working through preliminary and detailed design of the project. This is a collaborative process in which we work to implement a project that will fill the needs of your community for decades to come.

Once the design is completed, we can start collecting bids from contractors, and our team of engineers will oversee the construction and commissioning process. The design and construction phase varies depending on size and complexity—anywhere between several months to several years. All in all, the average project is typically finished in three to four years.

We can also provide continued support after the project is completed, in the form of troubleshooting, maintenance, and operations.

As part of our process, we offer:

  • Clean water infiltration and inflow evaluations
  • Feasibility studies
  • Emergency response plan evaluations
  • Hydraulics and process review and modeling
  • Permitting assistance
  • Vulnerability assessments
  • Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) services

Additional Services

Securing Funding

One of the biggest challenges that many municipalities face is how to pay for their water or wastewater treatment plant construction. That’s where our team can help. The staff at Fleis & VandenBrink are experts at finding funding solutions for our clients, and we work hard to identify and pursue every funding source available. We maintain strong relationships with funding agencies and keep up to date on the latest state and federal programs across both Michigan and Indiana. It’s allowed us to help our clients receive more than $1 billion in grants and low-interest loans.

F&V also offers asset management services that will help you identify and inventory your current water and wastewater assets in order to maximize their lifespan and efficiently prioritize their upgrade or replacement.

Treatment Plant Management & Maintenance

In addition to the design and construction of water and wastewater treatment plants, F&V also provides plant management and maintenance services. This allows for a smooth transition, as our staff can take their experience with the design and construction of your plant and apply it to the ongoing operation.

Fleis & VandenBrink Operations offers a variety of management and maintenance services, including:

  • Sewer cleaning
  • Solutions for iron, hardness, corrosion, and disinfection issues
  • Sampling for lead, copper, disinfection byproducts, and PFAS/PFOS
  • Bacteria analysis
  • Collection system maintenance
  • Health and safety training according to state and federal regulations
  • Technical training for certified operators and those working toward certification
  • Cross-training to help staff be more efficient
  • Expert troubleshooting
  • Sludge management, reduction, and removal
  • Odor control
  • Preventative maintenance for computer management systems
  • Oil separation
  • Soil and groundwater remediation systems management
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) inventory and waste management

Why Choose Fleis & VandenBrink?

F&V has more than 300 professional staff, including more than 20 experts in water and wastewater treatment plant design. We have the expertise, experience, and resources to implement a high-quality and affordable solution for your community. While we largely work with municipalities, our engineers also have experience with private development companies and industrial wastewater treatment. Whether your project is $5,000 or $100 million, we can tailor our services to your specific needs.

We are largely based in Michigan, and we have deep roots in the community. While national or multinational firms also have a large pool of engineers and resources, they can’t offer the same level of local expertise and support that Fleis & VandenBrink does. We have one of the largest process groups based solely in Michigan that is focused on water and wastewater treatment.

Tell Us About Your Project

Interested in our water and wastewater treatment plant design services? Reach out to our expert team, and we’ll be happy to talk with you about how F&V can serve your community.