H2M honored by ACEC

Holzmacher, McLendon & Murrell, P.C. (H2M) has earned national recognition for engineering achievement in the American Council of Engineering Cos.' (ACEC) 46th annual Engineering Excellence Awards for designing measures to protect Farmingdale, N.Y.'s water supply wells from an encroaching volatile organic compound (VOC) groundwater plume. H2M applied a variety of treatment technologies to remove the VOCs, which originated from operations at a nearby military base, and make the well water safe for normal use. Time was of the essence, as the South Farmingdale Water District had a relatively brief five-year window to implement the strategy and keep the supply wells in service. Completed on time and under budget, the new treatment facility produces water that meets stringent state quality standards, and can be expanded accommodate other VOC-threatened wells. For nearly 80 years, H2M has provided water resources, site/civil, structural, water/wastewater, and environmental engineering services to clients across the Northeastern U.S. The project is among 147 engineering projects from throughout the nation recognized by ACEC as preeminent engineering achievements for 2011. Judging for the Engineering Excellence Awards—known as the "Academy Awards of the engineering industry"—took place in February, conducted by a panel of more than 30 engineers, architects, government representatives, media members, and academics. Criteria for awards include uniqueness and originality, technical innovation, social and economic value, complexity, and success of the projects in meeting goals. All winners, including the top 16 Honor Awards, eight Grand Awards and the prestigious "Grand Conceptor Award" for the year's most outstanding overall engineering achievement, will be recognized at the Engineering Excellence Awards Gala, to be held Tuesday, April 17, 2012 at The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, D.C. The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America's engineering industry, representing more than 5,000 independent engineering firms and more than 500,000 professionals throughout the United States engaged in the development of America's transportation, water and energy infrastructure, along with environmental, industrial and other public and private facilities. Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACEC is a national federation of 51 state and regional organizations.