Maximizing Operator Involvement Through CMAR: Keeping Avon WWTF Running Through 3 Years of Construction

Eagle River Water and Sanitation District’s (ERWSD) $49.6M Nutrient Upgrades Project at the 4.3 million gallon per day (mgd) Avon Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) implemented a plan for sequencing nutrient removal improvements at the three interconnected WWTFs. Key challenges for this project included: 1) maintaining effluent permit compliance with units out of service while handling seasonal loading peaks, 2) improving access to underground and inaccessible aeration basins while maintaining structural integrity, and 3) sequencing work while mitigating impacts to neighbors. The project was delivered using the Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) model, with collaboration from key team members at Moltz Construction, ERWSD, and Carollo. The Avon project, which achieved substantial completion in May 2023 after five years of planning, design, and construction, serves as a strong example of the value of operator involvement and CMAR delivery in maintaining operations during construction.