The Saddle Creek Retention Treatment Basin (RTB) is a milestone achievement in the City of Omaha’s $2-billion Clean Solutions for Omaha program to reduce the impacts of combined sewer overflows (CSO) on local waterways by 2037. As the first remote high-rate treatment (HRT) facility built in Nebraska, the RTB captures combined sewage from the CSO 205 outfall and stores and treats it during storm events. Wade Trim provided design and construction management for this novel solution to improve water quality. The project was recognized by the American Public Works Association (APWA) Nebraska Chapter with a Project of the Year Award (Environmental over $75 million) at their 2024 Joint Fall Conference in Kearney, NE, on November 6.

The 3-million-gallon, underground, concrete basin provides “equivalent to primary” treatment of flows up to 160 million gallons per day (MGD) before discharging to the Little Papillion Creek. During extreme storm events, the RTB can screen, remove grit, and disinfect flows up to 320 MGD. Since storm events are highly variable, the Saddle Creek RTB was designed to operate efficiently and effectively over a wide range of conditions without adversely affecting the collection and treatment system. Extensive hydraulic modeling and development of process control strategies enabled use of real time controls and smart sewer technology to optimize flow management. The RTB’s innovative gravity-flow-through design moves flows in and out of the concrete facility without major pumping.

The project site was originally a construction debris landfill which was remediated to remove over 330,000 tons of piping, street debris, and fill material from demolition of aging water and gas pipes in the City. An extensive support of excavation system was used to enable the excavation to be completed within the tight confines of the site. Deep foundation support systems were used to address soil conditions and support the underground, reinforced concrete structure. The facility met Consent Order and budgetary requirements, demonstrates new wet weather storage and treatment technology to Nebraska, and aesthetically compliments the highly developed surrounding area.

(Pictured left to right) Project team members Jeff Ray and John Weiland (Wade Trim), Chris Grojean (Hawkins Construction Co.), and Dave White (Wade Trim) celebrated the APWA Nebraska Award with Jake Hansen (City of Omaha) and Jennifer Roesler (APWA Nebraska Chapter President).