Delivering Flood Protection for Vital Infrastructure

The Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, one of the largest regional sewerage commissions in the U.S., serves over 1.5 million residents across five New Jersey counties. During Superstorm Sandy in 2012, flooding from Newark Bay damaged the wastewater treatment plant, rendering it inoperable for several days.

In response to this vulnerability, PVSC initiated its Resiliency Program in 2015, in partnership with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This program, totaling approximately $800 million in improvements, aims to enhance the plant’s resilience to future extreme weather events. HDR, in a joint venture with AECOM, was tasked with providing project management services, including project controls, scheduling and administrative services. Currently, the program's focus is on providing overall construction management including resident engineering and inspection services, as well as health and safety oversight.

Key components of the program include the construction of a 2.4-mile floodwall around the facility; installation of a 34-megawatt standby power generation facility; laying 10,500 linear feet of new stormwater collection system piping; the establishment of three stormwater pump stations with significant capacities; and upgrade and replacement of the electrical substations, motor control centers and electrical cables throughout the site.

Throughout the planning stages, we developed basis of design documents and managed the procurement of engineering services for final designs. We also facilitated permitting and coordinated with utility companies. During the design phase, we oversaw design teams, conducted reviews and implemented value engineering exercises.

The floodwall and stormwater collection and pumping systems were completed in 2025, further fortifying PVSC’s wastewater facility and surrounding infrastructure against future challenges. Electrical and power infrastructure upgrades are progressing through complex, phased construction, with several components already operational and enhancing resiliency. Full program completion is expected by the end of 2029.