Expertise

The increasing emphasis on protecting the quality of our nation’s waters has placed an increasing demand on reducing pollutant loadings to these waterways. Wendel’s award-winning wastewater team promotes the development of innovative, cost-effective design solutions for both wastewater treatment and residuals treatment processes.

 

We deliver solutions with an understanding of issues facing today’s wastewater utilities, efficient use of limited resources, and financial management of capital expenditures. We provide conventional and innovative treatment expertise to help guide wastewater utilities through the increasing complexity of regulatory requirements, competition for capital resources, and operations management.

Standards for water quality and operational reliability have become more demanding. Wendel provides design solutions for water system upgrades, retrofits, and replacements customized to individual needs. We do so with attention to quality of life issues, efficient use of limited resources, and financial management of capital expenditures. We provide in-depth knowledge to guide water systems management through complex laws and regulations to ensure that water meets consumer and regulatory expectations.

 

Many wastewater treatment facilities are upgrading their facilities to incorporate more complex dewatering systems. The performance of these systems is dependent upon proper operation of the many supporting systems such as polymer feed systems and the optimization of the controls and operating parameters for the dewatering systems. Wendel has provided successful optimization services for numerous projects that have resulted in significant annual operational savings related to chemical usage or sludge disposal costs. 

 

Wendel provides nationally recognized expertise in collection system and combined sewer modeling. Our project team members have developed and implemented sewer system and hydraulic modeling efforts for the City of Richmond, Virginia, the Washington, DC Sewer Authority, and the South Florida Water Management District as well as CSO separation work for the Buffalo Sewer Authority. A CSO/SSO expert leads any sanitary sewer and combined sewer modeling programs undertaken to allow you to rely on their expertise in implementing similar projects. Our team provides both a national expertise that is required for successfully implementing complex solutions on all size projects related to sewer modeling and master planning efforts.

 

Wendel has significant expertise in all aspects of managing stormwater quality and quantity. In addition, we are recognized experts in the field of stormwater permitting, assisting communities throughout New York State in meeting new, stringent regulations. Wendel embraces new technology and sustainable practices, using green infrastructure to enhance the projects we design. Flood control is a critical issue in many municipalities. We have designed numerous cost effective flood mitigation strategies for both small (individual sites) and large (regional watershed) areas. Construction administration and inspection can be provided for all of our projects as needed.

 

Wendel can provide hydrologic and hydraulic modeling and meet design needs based on these models. We are experts in the application of HydroCAD, SWMM, Hec-RAS and many other modeling packages used in the industry. These models are used by our highly trained engineers to:

The results of this modeling and design work can be provided to the client in AutoCAD, ArcGIS, or animations for presentation to the general public or other stakeholders.

 

Management of energy consumption is a critical factor in balancing regulatory requirements with decreasing capital resources. Certified Energy Managers are part of Wendel’s core wastewater team and assist in delivering cost-effective, energy efficient design and treatment solutions. Wendel also pursues grant monies that are available to help fund the implementation of recommended energy efficient measures. Our mix of specialized knowledge, talent, experience, and services assures our clients seamless transitions through the design, implementation, and operation and maintenance.

 

Wendel initiates the audit process with a collaborative and thorough approach.

Comprehensive site visits, including discussions with Owner personnel are used to develop the opportunities for energy and operational savings. Improvements are coordinated with ongoing projects that are a part of the water system’s overall capital plan. The identified measures are reviewed with Owner personnel to determine feasibility and acceptance before inclusion in the proposed study scope of work. Our energy study services also include the identification and evaluation of available grant and incentives to offset project costs and prepare a detailed project proforma.

 

Our familiarity and experience performing similar projects allows us to focus an audit on the best opportunities to enhance revenue, save energy, improve operations and efficiencies, and reduce maintenance costs. Throughout the audit, phase, meetings are held to update the Owner on the progress of the audit and incorporate Owner comments and ideas. In addition, Wendel is very conscious of the impact and coordination with the community and existing Owner departments.

Each scope item is carefully vetted and planned with the Owner, such that the work moving forward has the least impact possible to community residents and department staff.

 

Wendel has experience developing economically sustainable capital improvement programs for water, wastewater and stormwater systems. Our typical approach includes the identification of the technical, financial and operational issues that need to be addressed for the current and future demand scenarios. We work closely with the operational and management teams of the community to provide capital improvement plans and prioritization of the improvements in the plans that can be implemented within the current financial constraints of the community. We use the latest industry standard programs and customer specific rate analysis tools to develop a rate structure for your community and utilize an asset management approach to all CIP planning projects.

 

Modeling and simulation techniques allow many calculations to be performed quickly and cost effectively. Coupled with our engineering expertise, Wendel uses this advanced technology to provide our clients with high quality designs for water, wastewater and stormwater systems.   Wendel develops master plans using the latest modeling and simulation techniques to ensure that the installed systems meet the end users current and future technical and economic challenges.

 

The challenge of dealing with aging infrastructure and interconnected systems often leads to elevated levels of inflow and infiltration taking up wastewater treatment plant capacity, limiting the potential to service new entities and increasing treatment costs. Wendel specializes in developing inflow and infiltration analysis and reduction programs that help municipalities cost effectively eliminate inflow and infiltration. Our approach includes developing a system specific approach that includes quantifying the existing inflow and infiltration issues, locating problem areas in the system utilizing existing flow monitoring and existing flow monitoring, sewer line televising and inspection, and visual inspection. The end result is a cost effective program that incorporates lower cost items such as the inspection and removal of illegal connections, smoke testing and repairing of leaking sewer lines, repair and raising leaking manholes, etc.

 

Wendel combines modeling and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology to provide intensive, yet cost effective analysis of water distribution systems. We show our clients how this technology can enhance their day-to-day operations. Information and maps can be easily accessed, exchanged, and combined for a variety of applications. Record drawings can be retrieved at a repair site, and impacts of unusual water quality, flow, or pressure conditions on water system performance can be predicted. Both water modeling and GIS are readily used for the development of capital plans, vulnerability assessments, emergency response plans, and other operational improvements.