SAN DIEGO, Calif. (August 28, 2024) The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) has awarded a contract for design and construction of the rehabilitation and expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) in San Diego, California. USIBWC awarded the contract to PCL Construction, and PCL has selected Stantec to lead design for the project, which will use the progressive design-build delivery model. Total program costs are estimated at $600 million.

SBIWTP is a federal plant at the U.S.-Mexico border. The project will provide essential rehabilitation of existing infrastructure at the plant and will also double its treatment capacity to 50 million gallons per day (MGD), with a peak hydraulic flow capacity of 75 MGD. The plant will remain in operation throughout design and construction.

“With decades of experience in wastewater construction, we bring a deep understanding of the complexities involved in projects of this scale. Drawing on our long history of partnering with Stantec, we are committed to delivering a successful project and providing essential infrastructure enhancements to provide clean water to San Diego and Tijuana,” said Ankur Talwar, district manager for PCL’s civil infrastructure division.

The U.S. $42.4-million first phase of the project will cover Stantec’s full-scale design for expansion and rehabilitation of the plant, with design expected to be completed within 20 months. Following design, PCL’s construction of the project is anticipated to take about five years.

“This work is critical to addressing aging infrastructure and increasing wastewater treatment capacity for the area,” said Mike Watson, senior vice president and director, design build, at Stantec. “We have worked with PCL on several progressive design-build projects, and we look forward to collaborating once again in San Diego to design improvements that will help local water quality.”

Expansion of SBIWTP, alongside wastewater infrastructure improvements in Mexico, will help eliminate up to 90% of untreated wastewater reaching the coast. This will provide cleaner, safer water for surrounding communities. The U.S. and Mexico will continue to partner in an effort to reduce transboundary flows of untreated wastewater.

This project is being conducted in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the 2020 United States-Mexico-Canada Implementation Act. 

Stantec
Stantec empowers clients, people, and communities to rise to the world’s greatest challenges at a time when the world faces more unprecedented concerns than ever before.  We are a global leader in sustainable architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting. ​Our professionals deliver the expertise, technology, and innovation communities need to manage aging infrastructure, demographic and population changes, the energy transition, and more. ​Today’s communities transcend geographic borders. At Stantec, community means everyone with an interest in the work that we do—from our project teams and industry colleagues to our clients and the people our work impacts. The diverse perspectives of our partners and interested parties drive us to think beyond what’s previously been done on critical issues like climate change, digital transformation, and future-proofing our cities and infrastructure. We are designers, engineers, scientists, project managers, and strategic advisors. We innovate at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships to advance communities everywhere, so that together we can redefine what’s possible.​ Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. Visit us at stantec.com or find us on social media.

PCL Construction
PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $7 billion USD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. Watch us build at PCL.com.