Wellington, New Zealand, November 26, 2009 - MWH, the global wet infrastructure sector leader and provider of environmental engineering, construction and strategic consulting services, and Watercare Services Limited have won two significant industry awards for Project Storm 2, the largest wastewater model ever produced in New Zealand, and one of the most complex international models ever developed using Wallingford MWH Soft’s InfoWorks CS software.

The project has won “Best Overall Paper” at the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) Autumn Conference of the Wastewater Planners User Group (WaPUG), held in the UK and also the Water, Waste and Amenities category of the 2009 New Zealand Engineering Excellence Awards.

Project Storm 2, completed in March 2008, accurately predicts the size, frequency and quality of overflows from the wastewater system under a range of weather and population scenarios and enables the most effective and appropriate mitigation options to be identified and designed. The model has become an essential asset management and strategic planning tool. Watercare has attributed capital infrastructure savings of more than $200 million to the model.

Myles Lind, Programme Manager at Watercare says, “Without hesitation I can state the Project Storm 2, under the lead of MWH, was the most professionally managed modelling project I have been involved with. The quality of the processes, documentation and attention to detail has resulted in a world-class, state-of-the-art wastewater model that Watercare is very proud of.”

As well as economic advantages, Project Storm 2 has delivered environmental benefit to the Auckland harbour and surrounding coastline through effective management of stormwater overflows. The environmental effects of stormwater and raw sewage overflows on receiving environments can now be accurately determined ensuring the most effective and appropriate mitigation options are identified.