Charlotte advances $43 million in design-build upgrades at McAlpine Creek wastewater plant

Charlotte advances $43 million in design-build upgrades at McAlpine Creek wastewater plantThe city council has approved guaranteed maximum prices for two major capital projects, including a nearly $40 million treatment facility rehabilitation and a nutrient harvesting initiative aimed at recovering phosphorus.

Garney Companies secured a $39.8 million guaranteed maximum price for the rehabilitation of preliminary and primary treatment facilities.

MEB General Contractors was awarded a $3.2 million GMP to construct a nutrient harvesting facility to recover phosphorus from the wastewater stream.

Council members praised the nutrient harvesting project for advancing the city's circular economy and Strategic Energy Action Plan goals.

The council also approved a $1.7 million change order with Insituform Technologies for phase two of the McAlpine Creek 54-inch sanitary sewer rehabilitation.

The Charlotte City Council unanimously approved a slate of major wastewater infrastructure contracts on August 24, 2026, headlined by significant capital investments at the McAlpine Creek Water Resource Recovery Facility. The largest approval was a $39.8 million guaranteed maximum price (GMP) awarded to Garney Companies, Inc. for design-build construction services to rehabilitate the plant's preliminary and primary treatment facilities. Including prior design costs, the total design-build contract value reaches $42.1 million. The rehabilitation project, deemed critical for the safe and reliable operation of the plant located in the Town of Pineville, is slated for completion by the fourth quarter of 2031. In a parallel effort at the same facility, the council approved a $3.2 million GMP with MEB General Contractors, Inc. for a new nutrient harvesting facility. The project is designed to enhance existing treatment processes by recovering phosphorus from the wastewater stream. Including earlier design phases, the total design-build contract value for this project is $47.3 million, with completion anticipated by the third quarter of 2027. The nutrient harvesting initiative drew specific praise during the meeting. Council Member Dimple Ajmera pulled the item from the consent agenda to highlight its environmental and economic benefits. "Charlotte Water is a champion of the circular economy," Ajmera stated, commending utility staff for recovering valuable resources like phosphorus and nitrogen to support a sustainable economy while advancing the city's Strategic Energy Action Plan goals. In addition to the plant upgrades, the council approved a $1.7 million change order with Insituform Technologies, LLC for the second phase of the McAlpine Creek 54-inch Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project. The change order extends the pipe rehabilitation by an additional 1,676 linear feet, allowing the city to utilize an existing access point and reduce future restoration costs. The total contract value for the sewer rehabilitation now stands at $7.6 million. Separately, Charlotte Water staff were formally recognized during the meeting by officials from neighboring Anson County, who commended the utility for deploying crews and providing laboratory testing support during a severe countywide water system depressurization emergency in July.