Hart Cos.

Scope Of Work

Over the years, Hart has cultivated a trusting partnership with the Warwick Sewer Authority (WSA), stemming from an extremely successful 2 ½ year construction project improving and upgrading its existing secondary waste water treatment facility to provide biological nutrient removal. Through innovative construction methodology on this job, Hart was able to provide WSA with credits in excess of $270,000, which was used to facilitate further plant enhancements not in the original scope. So in the spring of 2010, when unprecedented rainfall accumulations caused massive flooding paralyzing the Warwick Waste Water Treatment Facility, Hart was called in for the emergency restoration.

A state of emergency was declared in Rhode Island as the Pawtuxet River reached 500 year levels with a record measurement nearly 11 ft. above flood stage, submerging homes, businesses, major roadways and area wastewater treatment facilities. 50 million gallons of river water poured over the protective berm and into the Warwick Waste Water Treatment Facility, crippling the plant. As residents were advised that the entire city sewer system was inoperative, Hart was called in by the WSA to assist in the crisis.

Hart immediately mobilized, arranging for the police escort of seven 12” diesel pumps from as far away as Michigan; all arriving onsite within 24 hours. With all pumps activated, Hart was disinfecting and able to dewater the site in an astonishing 72 hours, and then begin pretreatment in the days immediately following. Primary treatment was back up and running within 2 weeks as Hart rapidly rebuilt pumps, baked motors and replaced clarifier equipment and rotary screens. In just over two months full treatment commenced.

Although the flood devastated the Warwick Waste Water Treatment Facility, there has been a silver lining. A complete rebuild of the plant has allowed Hart the opportunity to install the most up-to-date energy efficient treatment equipment and green technologies. At a press conference held 9-months later, the EPA and RI OER announced that the affected waste water treatment facilities had received $3 million in funding from the 2009 American Recovery and Restoration Act, $2 million of which will go towards energy efficient upgrades ($1 million of the $2 million designated specifically to WSA). As a result of these improvements, the agencies projected a 30% reduction in the facility’s annual energy costs and a significant decrease to its emitted greenhouses gases. At this same press conference, Scott Avedisian, the Mayor of Warwick, publicly thanked Hart Engineering for its rapid response and months of dedication and hard work.