Water & Wastewater

Successful treatment plants are safe, convenient, and cost-effective to maintain and meet user demands now and into the future.

Today’s treatment plant projects increasingly require owners to address aging infrastructure while expanding capacity and improving treatment performance. For facilities that have served communities for decades, this often involves comprehensive modernization, from replacing or repurposing legacy systems to implementing advanced and tertiary treatment technologies.

Though we’re designing upgrades, we’re ultimately improving the entire treatment process—from headworks to solids dewatering and influent equalization to effluent disinfection.

Our teams work together seamlessly to develop holistic, practical, and effective solutions for your treatment plant needs. Even when current limits are manageable, we design with future demand and regulations in mind.

Innovating every day.

From planning innovative treatments that preserve clients’ resources to solving complex issues caused by contaminants like lead, copper, and PFAS, we aim for solutions that are innovative yet still practical to build, operate, and maintain.

Our multidisciplinary team is well-versed in pitching these out-of-the-box solutions to uncertain stakeholders, such as regulators, and earning their support.

The importance of practicality.

Treatment design is grounded in science and advanced by innovation, but successful solutions also require practical application in order to deliver high-performing, economical facilities. Engagement with plant operators is a key part of the process, helping ensure systems are aligned with day-to-day operational needs. This focus supports long-term reliability while minimizing lifecycle operational costs.

Design features that benefit your facility and its neighbors.

Pumping stations have significant operation and maintenance requirements. For both water distribution and wastewater collection system pumping stations, we identify and incorporate design features that are right-sized for the facility and maximize operational efficiencies while minimizing maintenance requirements.

At large facilities, we often recommend technology that reduces energy consumption and long-term operation and maintenance costs.

In smaller facilities, a simple approach often provides the best long-term value with few points of failure.

We understand that pumping stations present unique challenges, particularly regarding odor and aesthetics. That’s why we place a strong emphasis on designing facilities that minimize community impacts.

Pumping station force mains, in particular, raise concerns about odor disrupting neighbors as well as corrosion increasing the risk of sewage spills.

We incorporate treatment methods that protect system performance while preserving the quality of life in the communities we serve.

Supporting your staff.

Because many water and wastewater pumping stations are not continuously staffed, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) is critical.

The monitoring and control systems we design are based on decades of experience, including troubleshooting some of the most complex controls. We uphold a high design standard that yields robust and reliable SCADA installations.

To ensure an easy transition into full operations, we provide hands-on support during commissioning, observing equipment testing and startup as well as training owners and operators on their new equipment and control systems.

Managing community impacts.

Water and sewer line projects have a direct and visible impact on the community. Not only are most homes tied into a system, but the steps to complete a linear project also require substantial community involvement.

Assessing environmental impacts, securing permits, and acquiring easements can be complex, making proactive public outreach and regulatory agency coordination essential.

Our team guides clients through every step, helping minimize disruption, streamline approvals, and keep projects moving forward.

Designing for longevity.

Water and sewer lines are typically out of sight—until a failure occurs. We recognize the significant consequences our clients face in managing linear infrastructure, so we emphasize the importance of designing for longevity.

From details such as pipe material and air valve and outlet design to trenchless pipeline design, LaBella’s nonconventional and robust designs address the immediate and long-term project needs of varying complexities, including those of dense urban communities.

Modeling for reality.

Utilizing modern software, LaBella brings full water and sewer system modeling capabilities, having modeled entire municipal water and sewer systems. We identify pressure and supply issues, as well as potential water quality and surge concerns, ensuring models are grounded in reality.

Managing community impacts.

Water and sewer line projects have a direct and visible impact on the community. Not only are most homes tied into a system, but the steps to complete a linear project also require substantial community involvement.

Supporting smooth operation.

Driven by the goal of successful operations, we help ensure your infrastructure projects move smoothly from design to construction. We work with clients to define project parameters and, where appropriate, evaluate alternatives that may better support their ability to provide reliable water and wastewater service to customers.

We have prepared dozens of funding agency application documents, resulting in over $650 million in grant and low-interest loan funds for municipal clients in recent years.

To streamline permitting, we maintain good working relationships with regulatory agencies.

Our resident project representatives can provide part- or full-time on-site support, collaborating with contractors to resolve issues as they arise and help limit construction delays and budget impacts.

Your single source.

As a full-service firm, we have the expertise to support any water and wastewater project. Our team of civil engineers, surveyors, geotechnical engineers, environmental scientists, GIS technicians, building engineers, architects, and resident project representatives collaborates to deliver integrated, well-coordinated solutions. The result is a single, responsive source for services that meet every project need.