After completing the initial Phase I Environmental Site Assessment, Hard Hat was responsible for the design and construction management of changes to an existing building for use as a regional distribution center. Project activities included interior building modifications, relocating the loading docks, adding a gatehouse and secure fencing, and designing and building new asphalt parking lot. Critical to the projects was the design of stormwater systems that would provide storage for onsite runoff, calculated to hold the 100 year, 24 hour storm. This included detention ponds, catch basins, stormwater piping, and inlet and outlet structures.

Hard Hat acted as the engineer for identification and evaluation both short-term and long-term system improvements that would increase the BOD and solids removal efficiency of the treatment system along with the system’s hydraulic capacity.

Hard Hat created an updated set of facility drawings that represented current conditions at two separate sites. The existing drawings were reviewed and evaluated for accuracy versus observable conditions, both onsite and offsite. A variety of surveys were performed, including; visual observations, laser measurement, GPS, hose testing, dye testing, and camera inspection.

Project Manager for assessing the performance of the existing wastewater treatment system, identifying information needs for system improvements to improve oil and grease removal and enhanced BOD removal, and developing a strategy to negotiate industrial wastewater discharge requirements with the City of Tupelo. That information was utilized to develop a conceptual design and cost estimate for a wastewater treatment system that would ensure compliance with the City’s discharge requirements and decrease costs associated with wastewater treatment at the plant.

Hard Hat conducted preliminary design and financial feasibility study for anaerobic treatment systems for waste food solids and wastewater from this large industrial food processing facility. This plant primarily processes different varieties of vegetables. Anaerobic digesters were designed for approximately 11,000 tons/yr of vegetable solids and 1 million gallons per day of high BOD wastewater. Energy recovery via micro-turbine generators was also part of the facility design.

An upgraded wastewater treatment system was designed and built by Hard Hat, using as much existing equipment as possible. The upgrade consisted of an equalization tank, a DAF unit, instrumentation, and piping reconfiguration. The site was prepared, including leveling DAF area and layout arrangement. Hard Hat provided on-site construction management to ensure the project proceeded smoothly. Hard Hat also provided and installed equipment, including DAF and DAT, 10,000-gallon polyethylene equalization tank, new pH probe and controller, caustic feed system, coagulant feed system, new flow meter, and control valve. Staff at Hard Hat oversaw the modification of the electrical and mechanical system. Components of all systems were tested and made a one-day crossover. Hard Hat prepared operation maintenance manuals for all equipment.

Managed all aspects of operations, maintenance, and monitoring of a groundwater containment system, collection system, and pretreatment facility at a former manufactured gas plant for two and one-half years. Responsible for bid documents, operation and maintenance manual revisions, inspections, and maintenance of a steel sheetpile wall and an asphalt cap to contain manufactured gas plant (MGP)-derived constituents. Collected and reviewed all data required to determine effectiveness of the system and compliance with local POTW and state regulations.

Hard Hat was the Project Manager for the design-build of an industrial wastewater pretreatment system for pH adjustment of various wastewater steams. During the project Hard Hat also managed the abatement of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) related to damaged vinyl floor tile (VFT) and mastic in the facility buildings.

Hard Hat personnel acted as project engineer responsible for field location and identification of existing emergency lighting fixtures, egress lighting, emergency electrical panels, circuit identification, and conduit runs for Kraft’s bakery in Chicago, Illinois.

Hard Hat engineered and managed design of wastewater treatment plant upgrade including closure of existing lagoons system, and installation of new pH adjustment, solids removal and handling equipment, and permitted sewer discharge. Retrofit was designed to be implemented while existing plant was operational, with virtually no lost time for start-up. New system will save operational costs associated with the existing lagoon system, and allowed the lagoon area to be used for additional plant expansion. Performed construction services for the decommissioning of the existing lagoon system following construction of the new wastewater treatment system.

Hard Hat investigated pH profile of various process discharges and designed new tank-based pH adjustment system for facility. Batch system is capable of handling up to 100,000 gpd, equalizing high-strength wastewaters to reduce peak loading on the sanitary discharge. Design included pipe routing, lift station design, tank system and chemical feed systems, controls and monitoring station, and discharge piping. New system was designed into existing floor space, maximizing use of elevated tanks and mezzanines, to minimize footprint of treatment system.

Conducted design study of storm water control system at Munster, Indiana bottling plant. Work included site inspection, work plan development, design and reporting. Hard Hat also inspected facility and prepared updated SPCC for petroleum used within operating areas of three separate facilities in Indiana and Ohio.

At three separate facilities, Hard Hat was responsible for the design and construction of a new asphalt parking lot. Critical to the projects was the design of stormwater systems that would provide storage for onsite runoff, calculated to hold the 100 year, 24 hour storm. This included detention ponds, catch basins, stormwater piping, and inlet and outlet structures.

Hard Hat completed a concrete and asphalt repair and storm sewer investigation work at the 51st Street facility. The work included sawcutting, removing, and replacing: four damaged areas of concrete warehouse floor, one exterior, concrete, approach ramp and apron, and three areas of damaged asphalt surrounding catch basins. The work also included investigation of storm sewer pipes entering and exiting the three catch basins. The investigation consisted of jetting the pipes and using a video camera to inspect the condition of the storm pipes (pipe collapse was suspected).

At both of these facilities, a catch basin was demolished, removed, disposed of, and replaced with a new catch basin at the appropriate elevation to maintain positive drainage to the surrounding concrete and asphalt pavement without creating a significant depression in the final grade. Hard Hat site personnel determined final elevation of the inlet. Before backfilling the area surrounding the catch basin, the subgrade for the asphalt was verified to be sufficient for the aggregate stone base for the asphalt. Soft areas were over excavated and fine graded compacted stone was used as backfill to bring the area to grade for asphalt placement.

Due to company growth, a major beverage manufacturer decided to add onto an existing warehouse with a new 80,000 square foot building. Hard Hat was chosen to lead the overall project as the owner’s representative, including construction management and administration of this approximately $10 million project. Hard Hat served as the construction manager and owner’s representative on site during the construction project. In this capacity, Hard Hat was responsible for overseeing the site daily, generating reports on work progress, coordinating weekly construction meetings with the general contractor, architect, and plant management, and driving the project schedule to completion. The company was also responsible for tracking costs, generating purchase orders and processing invoices. Hard Hat also participated in construction management services as necessary and coordinated efforts with the operating plant project team members.

Hard Hat conducted all engineering and construction of an industrial wastewater treatment system upgrade to handle solids and chromium removal from coil coating operations in Toledo, Ohio. The work included permitting, design, procurement, construction, and installation of equipment; programming of instrumentation and control; start-up; initial operation, and training of CC&S operators. The treatment train included gravity separation, pH and ORP adjustment, flocculation, inclined-plate separation, pH adjustment, and metered discharge to a permitted outfall. The chemical feed systems and solids handling systems were also upgraded.