LITTLE ROCK, AR — At the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of Arkansas Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, three Garver-led projects were honored for demonstrating a high degree of achievement, value, and ingenuity.

The Northwest Arkansas Conservation Authority (NACA) Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Conceptual Engineering Report won the large category for Studies, Research, and Consulting Engineering Services. The Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport (LIT) NAVAID Improvements project won the Building/Technology Systems category. And the Little Rock Port Authority (LRPA) Growth Initiative won the Transportation category.

For the NACA WWTP Conceptual Engineering Report, Garver conceptualized a plan maximizing the use of existing infrastructure to gain an increased capacity of 7.2 MGD out of their existing WWTP. The plant had originally been intended to expand from 3.6 MGD to 5.4 MGD, which was not enough capacity to support the rapid population growth of the region.

To do so, Garver developed and calibrated a process model of the existing facilities’ process data to help with this evaluation, verified the existing plant biological treatment, identified any biological volume necessary for the planned capacity expansion, and determined the capability of existing processes to meet future nutrient limits, of which NACA has the most stringent limits in the state of Arkansas.

“We appreciated the opportunity to work with a client who provides service to the communities we live in. It’s a personal project,” said Senior Project Manager Chris Buntin, PE. “So, together, we identified a solution that allowed NACA to gain the most out of their existing infrastructure and expand capacity as cost effectively as possible.”

For the LIT NAVAID Improvements, Garver provided complete engineering and construction services for the installation of four new PAPI systems at the airport (Runways 36, 4L, 22R, and 4R), which enhance safety by providing visual approach guidance to assist pilots in flying and landing safely. Through extensive coordination with the FAA, Garver was able to continue to work throughout the pandemic and complete the project to the satisfaction of the FAA and the airport.

“We’ve had a long-term partnership working with LIT, and we’re always proud to increase the safety for travelers, pilots, and staff,” said Aviation Electrical Leader Eric Farmer, PE. “The project not only increases flying and landing safety, but these new LED systems are energy efficient as well, reducing operating costs and making it easier for these systems to be maintained.”

For the LRPA Growth Initiative, a project funded by a 2016 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant, Garver provided services to assist the LRPA with the planning, grant application, environmental work, design, and construction inspection of the Growth Initiative project. The improvements focused on providing the port with additional railroad, dock, and warehouse capacity with an emphasis on truck-to-barge and rail-to-barge offloading capabilities.

“The key to this project was providing the client flexibility,” said Transportation Project Manager Charles Cullen, PE. “The enhanced facilities needed to address truck- and rail-to-barge transfers, as well as a variety of commodities. We were proud to provide these solutions to a longtime client that is so important to the community’s growth.”

In addition, the Garver-led City Corporation Industrial Area Tank project for the City Corporation of Russellville won an Honor Award in the Water and Wastewater category.