The East WWTP Phosphorus Removal Upgrades in Crest Hill, Illinois, received a 2026 American Public Works Association (APWA) Chicago Metro Chapter Southwest Branch Project of the Year Award in the Environmental – Less than $5M category.

The City and Strand collaborated to identify a cost-effective and sustainable solution to meet the City’s new total phosphorus limit and be in a position to meet future, lower nutrient limits. The phosphorus removal upgrades project, which consisted of constructing a new anaerobic selector tank (attached to the existing oxidation ditch), was designed to operate in multiple biological nutrient removal configurations and included backup chemical phosphorus removal facilities, additional liquid sludge storage capacity, and miscellaneous, electrical, control, and site upgrades to achieve the City’s goals.

The contractor implemented creative construction solutions to complete the project safely with only 0.3% net change orders (well below the industry standard of 5%) despite challenges associated with material lead times resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, proximity of new structures to existing structures, and the need to continually maintain treatment plant operations. Using creative solutions to overcome challenges, this new, cost-effective phosphorus removal upgrades project greatly benefits the community and the environment.