California's Clark to Receive Top Water Quality Award

Water Environment Federation to Present Honor Oct. 5 in New Orleans

Alexandria, Va. (August 25, 2004) – Black & Veatch announced today that James H. Clark, a Black & Veatch vice president and senior project manager based in Los Angeles, Calif., will receive the prestigious Charles Alvin Emerson Medal from the Water Environment Federation (WEF). The award will be presented during ceremonies held Oct. 5 in New Orleans, La., at WEFTEC®.04, the Federation’s 77th annual technical conference and exhibition.

A member of the California Water Environment Association and former WEF President (2001-2002), Clark has made many significant contributions during his term as a Federation officer including serving on the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) Board and working closely with WEF Membership and Students & Young Professionals committees. He has also been active on several other Federation committees, including Air Quality, Technical Practice and Government Affairs. Clark has also served as a review author for the two most recent editions of MOP-8 and as a principal author of MOP-22 and MOP 25, leading wastewater industry manuals of practice.

Clark has also managed many water quality improvement projects where unique processes have been used to effectively improve treatment cost. One example is the City of Los Angeles Hyperion Treatment Plant, where the most efficient high-purity oxygen cryogenic air separator was installed. The addition of egg-shaped anaerobic digesters allowed for more efficient operation, improved gas production and twice the capacity on the same site footprint as conventional digesters. Clark is currently managing the design of the first air treatment facilities in the City of Los Angeles wastewater collection system, utilizing environmentally-friendly technologies with low operation and maintenance requirements.

The Emerson Medal is awarded for contributions to the wastewater collection field that most deserve recognition. According to WEF Executive Director Bill Bertera, “This award not only recognizes the excellence and contribution of a noted individual, but of a whole community of public health and environmental professionals.”

Clark will be honored during WEFTEC®.04, North America’s largest water quality conference and exhibition, scheduled for Oct. 2-6, 2004 in New Orleans, La. More than 15,000 of the world’s leading water quality experts and 800 companies featuring the latest in water quality technology are expected for this major event.

About WEF

Founded in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with members from varied disciplines who work toward the WEF vision of preservation and enhancement of the global water environment. The WEF network includes water quality professionals from 79 Member Associations in over 30 countries.

About Black & Veatch

Black & Veatch Corporation is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company specializing in infrastructure development in the fields of energy, water and information. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch serves its clients with conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, information technology, environmental, security design and consulting, and management consulting services.

The Water Sector provides innovative, technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide. Local project managers work with a global team of water and wastewater treatment process experts to address site-specific challenges through a broad range of consulting, study, planning, design, design-build and construction management services.

The employee-owned company has more than 90 offices worldwide. Black & Veatch is ranked on the Forbes “500 Largest Private Companies in the United States” listing for 2003. The company’s Web site address is www.bv.com.

For more information, please contact:
Linda Heil
Communications Specialist
(913) 458-4629
Heilla@bv.com