TRAVERSE CITY, MI The city of Traverse City, Michigan, recently approved a five-year contract renewal with CH2M for operations and maintenance of the Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The city commission voted six to one for renewal of this important partnership, extending a 26-year success story throughout which CH2M and the city have collaborated to improve water quality in Grand Traverse Bay, and help maintain Traverse City's unique quality of life.

CH2M operates the city's wastewater treatment facility in addition to maintaining and operating the city's lift stations and eight township autosamplers. The CH2M team also guided the city through a $32 million upgrade that added a membrane bioreactor to the treatment systemat the time of its construction it was the largest and most advanced of its kind in North America. CH2M will see the city through the membrane replacement process throughout the next four years.

"CH2M has provided long-standing quality services. We are in the midst of a significant replacement process of the filtering process, and CH2M has the experience and know-how to implement it," said City Manager Marty Colburn.

Traverse City's Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant serves 50,000 residents, plus local industries. Originally built in 1932, the 8.5-million-gallon-per-day facility has been upgraded several times, and now employs advanced membrane filtration technology to produce high-quality treated effluent that helps sustain public and environmental health.

CH2M and Traverse City have enjoyed a productive partnership, resulting in reduced energy and chemical consumption, cost savings, awards including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency IPP Excellence Award, the Michigan Water Environmental Association Health and Safety Award, industry firsts and ongoing community support.