US EPA has awarded a $699 million low-interest loan to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) to finance its Southeast Treatment Plant Biosolids Digester Facilities Project. The EPA's Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA), offers as much as $5.5 billion in loans, with SFPUC receiving the largest amount issued to date.
Led by environmental engineering and construction firm Brown and Caldwell, the project will upgrade critical components to the Southeast Treatment plant, San Francisco's largest wastewater facility. SFPUC will replace the aging biosolids digester facilities with modern technology to transform wastewater solids into high-quality biosolids and biogas. The updated infrastructure is designed to maximize energy recovery, reduce emissions, minimize potable water use through recycling, and produce reusable Class A biosolids. Located farther away from residences, the new digesters will feature advanced odor control, and will be more resilient to earthquakes.
Brown and Caldwell assisted the city in its letter of interest for the loan and provided technical documents in support of the application. The SFPUC project was the largest in a pool of 43 letters of interest submitted, and one of 12 projects selected by the EPA to apply for and negotiate a loan.
“I am thrilled the EPA has chosen to partner with SFPUC by investing in their infrastructure and the local economy,” says Jay Patil, Brown and Caldwell Senior Vice President and Director of Sales, Strategy, and Marketing. “It speaks volumes about SFPUC’s visionary leadership and culture of environmental and community inclusivity that they received the largest WIFIA loan thus far.”
Brown and Caldwell leads a team comprised of Black & Veatch, CH2M (Jacobs), SRT Consultants, STRUCTUS Inc., AEW Engineering, and Geotechnical Consultants for engineering; Saylor Consulting Group for estimating; MWA Architects, MEI Architects, Fluidity Design Consultants, and Endrestudio for architecture; and Katz & Assoc., Alfred Williams Consultancy, and BAYCAT Studio for outreach.
“SFPUC did an extraordinary job in securing this alternative funding, and our team is proud to have been part of the process,” says Tracy Stigers, Brown and Caldwell Vice President and Project Manager. “Throughout the project, SFPUC and the consultant team have striven for cost savings and efficiencies with the ratepayer in mind. It is a great feeling to be part of an effort that will save ratepayers more than $200 million in financing.”
