Lincoln, Nebraska, is committed to planning for the future. The city of nearly 295,000 people is growing rapidly.

Every day, the city requires 1,000 miles of pipes and 15 pumping stations to transport more than 25 million gallons of wastewater. All that water is transported to Lincoln’s water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs).

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Olsson helped design Lincoln’s Northeast WRRF more than four decades ago and jumped at the opportunity to update the facility in 2019. The 2022 $14 million expansion has made the facility more resilient and reliable through innovative technology and new equipment. 

Previously, the Northeast WRRF converted biosolids into a liquid-based fertilizer that was not optimal – about 90 percent of the product was water. Now, thanks to a scientific dewatering process and Olsson’s design work, the City of Lincoln reports that the WRRF converts Lincoln’s waste into a dry, nutrient-rich, soil-like substance. This creates a 10 times more concentrated fertilizer, which is easier for area farmers to use on crops. 

As part of the project, the Olsson team also installed a new 300,000-gallon sludge holding tank to store biosolids between dewatering cycles. Our engineers used innovative ventilation techniques to control odors, improve system accessibility, and reduce energy consumption. Other system updates were completed to enhance operations, streamline processes, and increase longevity.  

Today, the facility’s expansion supports local farmers and a fast-growing, thriving community. Olsson is honored to have played a part.