Severn Trent
City of Jackson Wastewater Treatment Facility
Jackson, Mississippi
Severn Trent Services (then operating as McCullough Environmental Services, Inc.) was awarded a full-service operations and maintenance contract for the City of Jackson, Mississippi, wastewater facilities in 1985. Subsequent renewals and additional contract services have been awarded through bidding processes. The most recent contract renewal took place in 2002 and resulted in a five-year contract with a one-year option. The treatment facilities serve a population of approximately 184,000.
In its partnership with Jackson, Severn Trent Services has brought about significant cost savings. During the latest major plant upgrade, the City solicited and received bids, the lowest of which was in excess of $20 million. The company and its consultants provided alternative treatment technology that reduced construction costs by more than $6 million.
Severn Trent proposed, administered and constructed an upgrade to the aeration system in 1994 by converting from the original coarse bubble diffuser system to a fine bubble system. This was accomplished with inhouse and subcontracted labor, saving the City significant dollars over employing the services of an outside contractor. This upgrade generated an estimated annual savings of $550,000 in electrical costs and provided routine compliance within discharge permit parameters.
The City had been contracting its sludge disposal since 1978. In 1999, Severn Trent was awarded this contract and saved nearly $3 million over the term of the existing contract (through 2002).
Severn Trent has also addressed environmental compliance. In 1985, the City was being forced to limit its treatment capacity to 37 million gallons per day (mgd), down from 46 mgd, due to more stringent stream loading parameters imposed by the State of Mississippi and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Severn Trent has enabled the City to regain the full volumetric capacity (46 mgd) and increased loading of the main plant while complying with the more stringent effluent discharge parameters.
The City of Jackson has realized cost savings and increased environmental compliance as a result of its contract with Severn Trent and the experience of the company’s employees who serve the City. As with all its public-private partnerships, Severn Trent offered employment to all facility personnel upon start-up of the original contract.
The company works to train and develop its employees so they can grow and expand their abilities within the Severn Trent organization. The company provides each employee up to $1,000 per year for job-related classes and seminars, and up to $3,000 per year for accredited job-related college courses. Personnel are rewarded for achieving certifications that promote professional excellence. |
