Client: Muhlenberg Township Authority
Location: Berks County, Pennsylvania

Our firm was responsible for the assessment of the purchase of Temple Quarry as a future potable water supply source. The Temple Quarry was an active limestone mined quarry that was dewatered for mining activities up until the early 1990s. When the Temple Quarry ceased mining operations, the abandoned limestone quarry was allowed to fill with approximately 600 million gallons of groundwater. The quarry is located within the Authority’s water distribution system, which made it a worthwhile candidate for consideration as a future potable water supply source. However, the close proximity of commercial and industrial sections of Muhlenberg Township necessitated a water supply assessment study for the quarry water supply.

The project involved the assessment of remediation activities adjacent to the quarry and other potential contaminant sources in the area and their potential impacts on the quarry; calculation of a water budget to determine possible impacts to existing nearby supply wells; and interaction with the Delaware River Basin Commission and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection concerning potential withdrawal rates and restrictions. Through this favorable assessment report, the Authority was able to advance with the purchase of the quarry site in the early 1990s. With the increased potable needs in recent years, the Authority is currently advancing the preliminary design and permitting for the Quarry Water Treatment Plant to develop and utilize this quarry supply as one of its primary sources of potable water supply in future years.

Client: Bear Creek Historical Society
Location: Bear Creek, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Our firm performed design-build services for the removal and replacement of the Bear Creek Dam using roller-compacted concrete (RCC). The new Bear Creek Dam is the first RCC dam in the world constructed with a timber-facing system, which is safer, more reliable, and maintains the original's 19th-century appearance. The new dam provides a recreational pool and features important sustainability components, including reuse of many of the old dam’s materials. Some of the 130-year-old hand-hewn timbers were used to create a border around a new historical display, and a portion of the original rock fill was also utilized to construct a small public viewing area at the north abutment.

As both designer and construction manager, Gannett Fleming implemented an innovative design-build approach to speed construction and reduce overall project costs. By using a design-build project delivery system and constructing the new structure with RCC instead of conventional concrete, there was a significant financial benefit and overall savings to the Bear Creek community.

Client: Waynesboro Borough Authority
Location: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

Our firm provided hydrogeological services to develop a new community well water supply source. A preliminary hydrogeologic investigation identified test well sites to develop the new public supply well in the north side of the Authority's service area.

Four test well locations were identified in carbonate rock formations underlying the West Branch Antietam Creek drainage basin. The test well sites were selected based on local geologic structure, topography, land use, and groundwater basin limits.

Additional services for this new well source included the design, construction, and startup of a micro-membrane filtration treatment facility to remove elevated concentrations of dissolved solids in the well water, supplying a water quality similar to the existing surface water supply. Micro-membrane procurement occurred after preliminary design in order to prepare the final design based on the micro-membrane supplier’s equipment. Because existing surface water supply treatment and transmission is at capacity, this new well serving the opposite side of the distribution system increases the total capacity available and improves distribution system pressures and flows.

Special Features:

• Groundwater sustainability assessment
• Test well site selection
• PADEP pre-drilling plan and permitting
• Production well drilling
• Aquifer testing
• Micro-membrane pre-construction procurement
• Hydraulic analyses to confirm pressure and flow increases

Client: Greencastle Area, Franklin County Water Authority
Location: Greencastle, Franklin County, Pennsylvania

The Greencastle Area, Franklin County Water Authority has experienced steady increases in demands due to population growth and relatively long periods of drought. The changing atmosphere heightened the Authority’s awareness of the importance of planning to preserve the quality and quantity of its existing and future supply sources.

Our firm assisted the Authority in securing a state grant for source water protection development, developing a source water protection plan, securing an education grant, developing source water protection education tools, performing hydrogeological services to identify and develop a new community water well supply, securing a DCNR grant for acquisition of land to further protect the new well source, and designing the new well and facilities. The source water protection plan defines protection areas for the Authority’s five springs and three wells. The plan also identifies the local hydrogeological framework, spring and well water quality information, potential contaminant sources within the system area, contingency planning, and the Authority’s management of and commitment to protecting its sources of public water supply.

Several unique characteristics caused the Authority to recognize its need for source water protection planning of all of its sources. The demand for developable land in this area puts extreme stress on the ground water recharge areas. The nature of the carbonate aquifers causes sinkhole activity, which provides pathways for contaminants to quickly reach water-bearing zones. The agricultural nature of current land use requires constant monitoring of chemical applications that may impact water quality. All of these issues are critical to protect the sustainability of drinking water supplies.

Services Provided:

• Source water protection
• Geophysical site investigation
• Well site evaluation
• Water availability analyses
• PADEP pre-drilling plan
• PADEP pumping test plan
• Test and production well drilling
• Aquifer testing
• Groundwater sustainability
• Grant application and administration
• Well design
• Land development/subdivision plan preparation