EAST CHICAGO, IND.—To assure the continued delivery of clean, safe drinking water, East Chicago’s water filtration plant needed to be replaced. East Chicago officials hired the architects and engineers of American Structurepoint, Inc., to lead a team, including treatment process engineers Black & Veatch, Inc. and building systems engineers Amtech, Inc., to design a new facility for this purpose. General Contractor Joseph J. Henderson and Son, Inc., successfully bid for and constructed the new water treatment facility that will meet current and future requirements for clean, safe drinking water.

The team designed a new membrane filtration treatment plant, a raw water pump station, chemical feed systems and high service pumping to provide this drinking water to local residents. Numerous low-impact and sustainable design elements were incorporated, including SCADA and PLC controls, rain gardens, drought-resistant plants, green building materials, low-flow plumbing fixtures, and high efficiency lighting to truly make this new plant and tank state-of-the-art.

"All over the world, the quality of water dictates the quality of life,” said Mayor Anthony Copeland. “I am proud to say that the City of East Chicago has invested wisely in the quality of life for generations to come."

With construction having begun in December 2009, the project will culminate with a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of the water filtration plant and its water tank, which was partially funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers, though an appropriation obtained by Congressman Pete Visclosky, on October 25, 2011.

"The US Army Corps of Engineers is pleased to partner with the City of East Chicago to complete a project that will involve construction of a new water treatment plant, filtration plant, new water station pump station, and water reservoirs," said Chicago District Engineer Colonel Frederic Drummond of the US Army Corps of Engineers. "It is partnerships like this one that enable us to directly benefit the community."

Speakers at the ribbon cutting will include Vice President and Principal Christopher Murphy of American Structurepoint; Executive Director William Hanna of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Corporation; Col. Drummond of the US Army Corps of Engineers; Chief of Staff Mark Lopez of Congressman Pete Visclosky’s office; and the City of East Chicago’s Honorable Mayor Copeland. Upon commissioning of the new facility, the old plant site will be vacated and demolished, making this valuable lakeshore property available for redevelopment.

“I commend Mayor Copeland, the City of East Chicago, the RDA, and all of those involved in this project for recognizing the need to invest in local infrastructure and to create job opportunities,” Congressman Visclosky said. “Through their efforts, the residents of East Chicago are now ensured clean, safe drinking water. Furthermore, the new filtration plant will also serve the dual purpose of helping to open up another portion of our lakefront where the old plant once was for eventual public use. This project is a perfect example of how we can invest in ourselves and put people back to work while bettering our communities."