Krebs Architecture & Engineering, Inc. has received authorization by the Opelika Utilities Board to begin design on the new Saugahatchee Water Treatment Plant in Opelika, Alabama. Originally designed by Krebs and built in 1945, the current 8 MGD plant will be replaced with a new facility adjacent to the existing one. The Board and its customers have received excellent value for their investment in the existing plant. However, at 64 years old, the plant’s effective useful life has exceeded the industry’s generally accepted standards.
Because the project is located within the watershed of Saugahatchee Lake Reservoir, special consideration will be given to sustainable design techniques and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards. “We want this project to serve as a model for all future projects within the watershed” noted Dan Hilyer, General Manager of Opelika Utilities. Krebs has eight employees that have received their LEED certification in 2009. Jason Dearing, Krebs project manager for the new plant said, “Krebs desires to be on the forefront of working with utilities to build environmentally conscious projects.”
As a part of this project, Krebs will complete a detailed review and evaluation of the Saugahatchee Lake Dam which was constructed in 1945. Designed by Krebs, the dam created a surface water supply reservoir for the area.
Krebs and the Opelika Utilities Board have a partnership that was firmly established over 70 years ago.