Once known as the “Hay Capital of the World,” the town of Gilbert, Ariz., has transformed from a sparsely-populated agricultural region in the
early 1970s to the growing, young, affuent community it is
today. Experiencing unparalleled growth and expansion over
the last 30 years, this community, located 20 miles southeast
of central Phoenix, grew from a population of just fewer than
2,000 in 1970 to nearly 110,000 in 2000 and over 208,000 in
2010, making it one of the most populous and fastest growing incorporated municipalities in the nation.
As population exploded, the town relied on a service partnership with Severn Trent Services to provide reliable, cost-effective environmental services for its broadened wastewater
operations.
Since 1999, Severn Trent Services has successfully man-
aged operations of Gilbert’s Neely Wastewater Reclamation
Facility, an extended aeration activated sludge plant that uses
100 percent of its effuent to irrigate municipal parks, golf
courses and neighborhood common areas, as well as to re-
charge facility basins.
Even as the Neely facility grew from an original capacity of
5.0 MGD to 11 MGD in 2005, Severn Trent Services continued to reduce operational costs while enhancing service levels.
COST EFFICIENCIES EQUAL SAVINGS
By performing many operations
tasks internally, Severn Trent Services
reduced the town’s reliance on outside
contractors for maintenance and upgrades, decreasing outsourced vendor
fees and project timelines. For example, by rehabilitating the plant’s large
rotors and clarifers and programming
SCADA controllers and software as
part of a new computerized maintenance management system, the company saved Gilbert more than $55,000.
Severn Trent Services also periodically
conducts energy management audits
— at no additional service costs — to
make ongoing plant effciency recommendations.
Through competitive bidding and leveraging its supply chain, Severn Trent
Previous enrollment in a power-shedding program saved
$13,000 during the frst two years of implementation. When
Team Effort
Long-Term Wastewater Operations Partnership Saves
Tens of Thousands of Dollars for Expanding Arizona Town
Partnership between Gilbert, Ariz., and Severn Trent Services continues to
provide reliable, cost-effective services to the town’s wastewater operations.
The Town of Gilbert, Ariz., has transformed from a sparsely-populated agricultural region in the early
1970s to one of the most populous and fastest growing incorporated municipalities in the nation.
