Projects

Mr. Forrest has over 35 years of experience working in public water utilities and consulting. His areas of expertise include utility management, integrated resource planning, public policy development, capital program/project management, water system planning & design, recharge and recovery project development, and strategic planning. Below is a sampling of the projects Alan has worked on during his career including a brief description of the project as well as the role he served.

Reservoir and Tank Rehabilitation Program

Tucson Water (Tucson, AZ)

 

Over a 10 year span, this program has provided Tucson Water (TW) with condition assessment and rehabilitation services for their entire inventory (both concrete and steel) of potable and reclaimed systems containing 68 reservoirs totaling over 320 MG of available storage. As of the end of 2019, approximately 40 large capacity concrete reservoirs have undergone condition assessment and approximately 10 have undergone rehab design and construction – most notable is the 60MG Clearwell Reservoir. TW added approximately 250 pressure vessels (A.K.A. hydro-tanks) to the program in 2016 and all of these tanks have been inventoried and have undergone initial (non-invasive) condition assessment. These tanks have now been prioritized for rehabilitation/replacement and the plan is to tackle approximately 4-5 tanks/per year – either through rehab or replacement – with overall goal of bringing every tank into compliance with current ASME standards.

Role: Principal in Charge/Sr. Technical Advisor (HDR)

Northwest Recharge, Recovery and Delivery System (NWRRDS)

Metro Water District (Tucson, AZ)

 

Since the late 1990s, various entities have been storing Central Arizona Project (CAP) water underground within recharge facilities located in Avra Valley. Through an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), NWRRDS will enable the Northwest Area Water Providers – Metro Water District, the Town of Marana, and the Town of Oro Valley (Partners) – to recover their stored CAP water that has been stored in Avra Valley and transport the water to their respective service areas. The shared NWRRDS facilities and pipelines will be owned and operated by Metro Water, with proportional capacity contractually owed by each Partner. The shared facilities include, three new recovery wells, conveyance/transmission system pipelines, two 1MG booster forebay/storage tanks, disinfection systems, and associated instrumentation and control (I&C) systems. Each Partner will construct and operate separate systems – which are not part of this project – to deliver water from the shared booster/forebay facility to their respective service areas.

Role: Program Manager (HDR)

Potable Water System Master Plan

Oro Valley Water Utility (Oro Valley, AZ)

 

In general, this project was undertaken to provide the Town of Oro Valley and its Water Utility (OVWU) with a 10-year planning horizon road map and outlines infrastructure improvements that will benefit existing customers as well as future growth. The Master Plan Update details the hydraulic model evaluation undertaken as part of this study, identifies distribution system improvements, and outlines a Capital Improvement Program (CIP). A key component of hydraulic model evaluation was the spatial distribution of the customer demands based on Geographic Information Systems (GIS) meter records. This availability of GIS meter data provided OVWU their first opportunity to spatially allocate demands, allowing for a more accurate simulation of the distribution system. Another key element of the Master Plan Update is the expansion of Central Arizona Project (CAP) water imports through the future Northwest Recharge, Recovery and Delivery System (NWRRDS). Beginning in 2024, TOVWU will expand their current CAP imports from approximately 2,000 acre-feet per year (AFY) from Tucson Water to 4,760 (AFY) CAP from Tucson Water and the NWRRDS system. The expansion of CAP water imports will be used to offset well pumping, reducing reliance on groundwater and increasing aquifer storage as a future resource.

Role: Principal in Charge/Sr. Technical Advisor (HDR)

One Water 2100 Master Plan

Tucson Water (Tucson, AZ)

 

Tucson Water (TW) had not performed a major comprehensive update of their Water Master Plan since 2004 and has undergone several changes that have altered the needs for the future. Consequently, TW has embraced the “One Water” approach to water management. Relative to these and other changes, it was decided that a new, integrated water master plan, founded on “One Water” principles, should be pursued. This master planning effort is being executed by a team of consultants working, in parallel, on various aspects of the master plan. Our Scope of Work initially covered the task of key stakeholder engagement to first provide orientation to the “Blueprint for One Water” and the solicitation of stakeholder input on key issues, drivers and desired outcomes for the future of Tucson Water. In addition, our efforts also cover the effects of “Smart Metering”, and rainwater/stormwater capture utilizing green infrastructure on water use. Information related to climate change, carbon footprint reduction and water conservation/efficiencies, and the potential impacts to both water supply and water demand projections are also being covered by the Consultant Team.

Role: Principal in Charge/Sr. Technical Advisor (HDR)

Sewer Conveyance System Master Plan

Town of Marana (Marana, AZ)

 

Given the pace of residential growth within the Town, Marana Water had a need to update their Sewer Master Plan. The Scope of Work for this project was broken into several tasks:

  • Collect and review existing conveyance system infrastructure information including but not limited to reports, maps, GIS data and as-builts of the existing conveyance system

  • Review system design criteria for existing and future growth

  • Develop a hydraulic model of the existing conveyance system

  • Identify existing system deficiencies and future system improvements to provide capacity to future customers within the Town’s Designated Management Agency (DMA) area using 10-year growth projections and buildout projections

  • Develop a capital improvement plan to incorporate all required conveyance system improvements identified. Cost opinions for each improvement were developed and will be used for budgeting analysis and development of a recommended 10-year and buildout Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to maintain the Town’s desired level of service for the wastewater system

  • Prepare a comprehensive document that includes all recommendations, exhibits, proposed costs

Role: Principal in Charge/Sr. Technical Advisor (HDR)

Tres Rios WRF Biosolids Master Plan Update

Pima County - PCRWRD (Tucson, AZ)

The purpose of this update to the 2012 Master Plan is to draft a work plan including specific technologies to assure sustainable long-term sludge processing and residuals management at Pima County Regional Reclamation Department’s (PCRWRD) Tres Rios Water Reclamation Facility (WRF). The product work plan intersects with an ongoing energy resources plan and, it lines up with resource recovery and addresses both current and perceived future opportunities and challenges for the benefit of our community and ratepayers.

Role: Principal in Charge/Sr. Technical Advisor (HDR)

AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge

Pima County - PCRWRD (Tucson, AZ)

The AZ Pure Water Brew Challenge was a statewide campaign to better inform Arizonans about water issues, water reuse and technologies currently available to purify recycled wastewater producing safe, high-quality drinking water. To accomplish this, we constructed an advanced mobile water purification unit that is capable of producing recycled water that far exceeds safe drinking water standards. The water purification process adheres to a multi-barrier approach: undergoing ultra-filtration, reverse osmosis, ultraviolet disinfection with advanced oxidation, activated carbon filtration and chlorine disinfection.

During the summer of 2017, the mobile pilot scale treatment plant was moved across Arizona, attending outdoor events and producing purified water for distribution to nearby breweries. To help spread the word, brewers throughout the state produced beer with the Pure Water we produced and competed for prizes at the Pure Water Brew Challenge in September of 2017 during the National WateReuse Symposium held in Phoenix, AZ. This project is a model for collaboration, involving utilities, academia, industry, consultants and brewers.

Role: Project Manager, Membrane Design (CH2M)/Public Outreach (HDR)

Tres Rios Water Reclamation Facility (WRF)

Pima County - PCRWRD (Tucson, AZ)

Served as client liaison/project principal for consultant team that provided design services for a $250 million effluent quality upgrade of an existing regional wastewater treatment plant to meet more stringent State nutrient removal requirements and capacity expansion for treatment of both the liquid stream and solids stream of the existing plant. Design included the addition of a new Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) 5-stage Bardenpho process to the plant and increased liquid capacity from 30 mgd to 50 mgd. Scope of work also included upsizing of solids handling facilities to accommodate increased load from nearby regional wastewater treatment plant, and improved odor control, SCADA and security systems.

Role: Client Liaison/Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M)

Agua Nueva Water Reclamation Facility (WRF)

Pima County - PCRWRD (Tucson, AZ)

Served as client liaison/project principal for Design/Build/Operate (DBO) team that provided design services for a $175 million, 32 mgd green field wastewater treatment plant. This plant replaced an old (1940s era) facility in order to meet Arizona’s more stringent nutrient removal requirements. Design included an innovative Dissolved Air Flotation Tank (DAFT) in place of primary clarifiers, 5-stage Bardenpho BNR, Chloramine disinfection system, odor control and filtration – effluent now meets Arizona’s requirements for Class A+ reclaimed water. Design did not include solids handling since all solids from this plant are transported to the Tres Rios WRF for processing.

Role: Client Liaison/Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M)

Regional Optimization Master Plan

Pima County - PCRWRD (Tucson, AZ)

Tucson Water (Tucson, AZ)

Served as project manager for several projects related to Pima County Regional Reclamation Department’s (PCRWRD) ROMP Program – a $1 billion program aimed at improving the operation and efficiency of the County’s wastewater collection and treatment system while meeting Arizona’s more stringent nutrient removal/discharge requirement. Managed several projects and programs associated with PCRWRD’s ROMP Program including:

  • System-wide odor control master plan (Project Manager): Focus during master plan development was conveyance system, however this work led to the design and implementation of odor control systems for both conveyance and treatment plants.

  • PCRWRD/TW Interconnect (Principal in Charge/Consultant): Planning, design and construction (Design-Build) of an interconnect between PCRWRD’s Agua Nueva WRF and Tucson Water’s (TW) Reclaimed Water Facility. TW retains rights to the effluent produced by PCRWRD and this is the capture point to bring this water into the City’s reclaimed water treatment and delivery system. Managed several studies in support of this project, including:

    • Evaluation of the Secondary Effluent Pump Station (SEPS) to determine if it was adequately sized to handle future flows from the new Agua Nueva WRF

    • Evaluation of future chlorination options for TW’s Sweetwater WRF in preparation for the significant water quality changes that resulted from PCRWRD’s transition from the old Roger Road WWTP to its new Agua Nueva WRF

    • Disinfection study to compare efficacy of chloramination versus break point chlorination (free chlorine residual)

    • Design and construction of a new chloramination chemical feed system and enclosure to ensure compatibility of treatment methods and water quality between the Agua Nueva WRF and the Tucson Water RWRF facilities.

  • Security Master Plan and Design (Project Manager): Developed PCRWRD’s first ever security master plan and provided security system design for new control center, new wastewater quality lab and for several of PCRWRD’s treatment plants.

  • Consulting Services to Tucson Water (TW) Staff During Development/Negotiation of ROMP: Given that TW owns 90% of the effluent produced by PCRWRD under ROMP, TW needed to be an active participant in the planning process and requested assistance in this regard – both from a technical and policy making standpoint.

  • Alternatives for Future Reclaimed Water Pumping at the Tres Rios WRF (Project Manager): Incorporated a pumping facility design on Tucson Water’s behalf at the County facility to allow for future conveyance of effluent to Sweetwater Reclamation Facility.

    Role: Project Manager/Principal in Charge/Principal Consultant (CH2M)

Tres Rios WRF Nutrient Recovery Facility

Pima County - PCRWRD (Tucson, AZ)

Served as client liaison/project principal for consultant team that provided progressive design-build services for an $6 million struvite sequestration system to reduce struvite formation potential, reduce ferric acid and polymer use and improve dewaterability of the solids handling process for Pima County. The project team utilized a collaborative approach to design, manage and construct this project – using a Progressive Design-Build delivery model – to complete a system that provides for future nutrient recovery if the County decides to go in that direction.

Role: Project Principal/Client Liaison (HDR)

Emergency Services Contract – Oroville Dam Spillway

California Dept. of Water Resources (Oroville, CA)

Due to flooding upstream of the Oroville Dam, the California Dept. of Water Resources (DWR) had to release large volumes of water during the winter of 2013, that caused significant damage to the existing spillway. But given the continued flows into the reservoir, DWR had to continue releases of water through the damaged spillway to minimize the risk of overtopping the dam. I was part of a team of engineers and scientists deployed to the site to provide surveillance and condition assessment during this time to assist DWR in assessing the extent of the damage and to ensure the spillway did not completely fail while dewatering the upstream reservoir.

Role: Sr. Water Resources Engineer (HDR)

Fargo-Moorhead Area Diversion Project, Program Management

FM Diversion Board of Authority (Fargo, ND)

Worked with program management team to develop Request For Proposals (RFP) for $2 billion flood control project on the Red River in Fargo, ND and Moorhead, MN. Main component of the program – 30 mile diversion channel, including 30 roadway bridges, 4 railroad bridges and recreational amenities – was intended to be delivered using a P3 (Public, Private Partnership) model. RFP included performance criteria for all aspects of the P3 including Design-Build, Operations and Financing (DBOF). Took lead on developing performance criteria for Project Developer including long-term Operations and Maintenance (O&M) of project, Project Management Plan, Safety Plan, reporting requirements, design criteria and compensation schedules.

Role: Principal Consultant (CH2M HILL)

Alternative Infrastructure Assessment (AIA)

Tucson Water (Tucson, AZ)

Evaluation of the reliability, robustness, redundancy and performance via comprehensive risk assessment of key infrastructure that is used to deliver renewable water supplies to Tucson Water’s customers. The goal of this project was to identify an optimal package of infrastructure improvements to reliably meet long term demands. A triple bottom line approach – economic, environment, and social – was undertaken, warranting a multi-faceted approach incorporating scenario planning, multi-variable analysis, and decision analysis to determine a strategy of action to ensure the future reliability and cost-effective delivery of renewable water supplies to the community.

Role: Director (Tucson Water)/Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M)

South Houghton Area Recharge Project (SHARP) Facility Design

Tucson Water (Tucson, AZ)

Project consisted of design of more than 6 acres of groundwater recharge spreading basins, reclaimed water delivery and control infrastructure, and park-like amenities for a planned multi-use facility. When completed, the project will recharge approximately 4,000 acre-feet of reclaimed water annually, delivered through Tucson Water’s existing reclaimed water system into three individual recharge basins. Each basin will have a wetted area of approximately 2.2 acres for recharge. The 40-acre site will also have walking trails, ramadas, water harvesting basins, restroom facilities, parking, and will be fully landscaped with trees and other native vegetation for use by the public as a recreational and educational facility.

Role: Director (Tucson Water)/Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M and HDR)

Reclaimed Water System Master Plan, Preliminary Design, Detailed Design and Construction

Oro Valley Water Utility (Oro Valley, AZ)

Town of Sahuarita (Sahuarita, AZ)

OVWU Phase I: Management and oversight, including feasibility study, water rights acquisition, master planning, design, and construction for the $30-million-dollar project. This program introduced an alternative renewable water supply to the Town that could be used for irrigation of large turf areas (golf courses, parks, school grounds, etc.) throughout the Town. This project reduced the Town’s use of potable water (groundwater) by about 30 percent.

Role: Director (Oro Valley Water Utility)/Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M)

OVWU Phase II: Design and construction services for development of the Town’s reclaimed water system expansion. Provided condition assessment, design and construction services for the rehabilitation of two separate reclaimed water storage facilities as part of an extension of its reclaimed water delivery system to provide reuse water to the La Cañada Golf Course(s). Given that these facilities were located within an existing golf resort, the design had to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional. To accomplish this, we worked closely with OVWU and the Golf Course to develop an innovative design that accomplished these goals.

Role: Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M)

OVWU Cost of Service Study and Impact Fee Update: In conjunction with development of its Reclaimed Water System, prepared a cost-of-service study and impact fee analysis for the Town’s water utility. The cost-of-service analysis supported modifications to existing increasing-block conservation rates, reclaimed rates, and introduction of first-time commercial and multi-family water rates. The impact fee analysis complied with the then recently-revised state impact fee statute ARS 9-463.05.

Role: Project Manager/Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M)

Town of Sahuarita Reclaimed Water System: Developed Master Plan and Feasibility Study for new reclaimed water system within the Town. Elements of the master plan included, development of a new distribution system (pipe sizing and route study), new booster station, conceptual SCADA system, noise/odor control, regulatory permitting and a new UV disinfection facility.

Role: Project Manager/Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M)

WateReuse Research Foundation Project 13-09: Indirect Potable Reuse Investigation

Tucson Water (Tucson, AZ)

To meet the water needs of the greater Tucson Metropolitan area, Tucson Water wanted to explore the concept of indirect potable reuse in order to diversify and expand their water supply portfolio. TW, the University of Arizona, and CH2M HILL collaborated to pilot test the effectiveness of soil aquifer treatment, nanofiltration membranes, ozone, and biologically active carbon filtration for potable reuse. Extensive water quality sampling and operational testing was conducted during the 6-month pilot to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed treatment scheme which will advance the science of potable reuse treatment, especially for inland utilities struggling with reverse osmosis concentrate disposal problems.

Role: Director (Tucson Water)

Tucson Airport Area Remediation Project (TARP), Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) Treatment Plant

Tucson Water (Tucson, AZ)

TARP is a superfund site managed by the City of Tucson (Tucson Water) to remediate industrial groundwater contamination dating back to the 1940s. There has been an air stripping tower located at this site since 1994 to remove chemical contaminants (TCE) from local groundwater supplies. With the issuance of the EPA’s lower health advisory limit for 1-4-dioxane in 2011, Tucson Water decided to construct an AOP plant at the TARP site to remove this contaminant from the groundwater. The plant was constructed at a cost of $20 million in 2012/13 and went into production in 2014. The AOP technology includes the use of hydrogen peroxide and UV light to remove 1-4-dioxane and bring the treated groundwater to drinking water standards. Project also involved renegotiation of the EPA’s Stipulation and Consent Order and Remedy to secure project funding and repayment of TW’s upfront costs.

Role: Director (Tucson Water)

Southern Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project (SAVSARP) and Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project (CAVSARP) Design

Tucson Water (Tucson, AZ)

Raw CAP Water Delivery System: Design and services during construction of raw water delivery system to move water from the CAP canal to CAVSARP/SAVSARP recharge basins. Scope included design of CAP turnout structure, large diameter transmission pipeline, hydraulic control structures and permitting for delivery of 140,000 acre-feet of CAP water to recharge basins each year.

Surge Analysis Project: Project scope included data collection, hydraulic model review, and completion of the technical memorandum for the surge analysis performed on the CAVSARP/SAVSARP booster station discharge piping and recovered water transmission pipeline.

Role: Director (Tucson Water)/Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M)

Assured Water Supply (AWS) Designation

Town of Oro Valley (Oro Valley, AZ)

City of Benson (Benson, AZ)

Metro Water District (Tucson, AZ)

Flowing Wells Irrigation District (Tucson, AZ)

Directed consultant and staff activities associated with development of AWS application (demand projections, water resource planning, hydrogeologic modeling, financial feasibility and coordination/negotiation with regulatory staff) for submittal to the Arizona Department of Water Resources. 100 Year AWS Designation obtained for the Town of Oro Valley, the Metropolitan Domestic Water Improvement District and the Flowing Wells Irrigation District, and Certificate of Adequate Water Availability obtained for the City of Benson.

Role: District Engineer (Metro Water District)/Project Manager, Sr. Technical Advisor (CH2M)

Central Arizona Project (CAP) Treatment and Transmission System

Tucson Water (Tucson, AZ)

Led a multi-disciplinary team of engineers to develop a conceptual design and associated Capital Improvement Program in preparation of Tucson Water’s switch from groundwater to the direct delivery of CAP water within its existing potable water distribution system. In general, the project consisted of modeling and designing a water system capable of treating and delivering up to 144,000 acre-feet of Colorado River on an annual basis. The overall system design consisted of a large (60MG) storage reservoir located in the Tucson Mountains, a very large transmission main (ranging from 96” to 42” in diameter) and a series of large Pressure Reducing Stations to enable high pressure water to be safely distributed across the Tucson Basin. In all, the CAP treatment and delivery system cost about $250M in 1995 and took about 5-years to construct.

Role: Chief Planning Engineer (Tucson Water)