Jacobs has secured a five-year agreement with the City of Vancouver to continue operating and maintaining the city’s wastewater infrastructure. The agreement extends a working relationship that began in the 1980s, during which Jacobs provided engineering, design, construction, operations, and maintenance services for facilities including the Marine Park and Westside Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs).
During the past decade, Jacobs has been responsible for the operation and maintenance of the city’s WWTPs. This period included system upgrades such as a multi-year modernization of the supervisory control and data acquisition system, as well as collaboration on more than 70 energy-efficiency projects. According to the city and Jacobs, these efforts resulted in reduced power consumption, operational improvements, and financial rebates.
“The renewal reflects Jacobs’ consistent ability to deliver integrated operations, engineering and capital improvements that enhance system performance and sustainability,” says Vice President of Operations Paul Rheault.
Under the renewed agreement, Jacobs and the city plan to continue focusing on sustainability initiatives. Recent actions include the acquisition of three electric trucks for high-use operations and additional electric carts for maintenance activities. These measures are intended to reduce emissions while supporting efficient use of public resources.
Jacobs will continue to manage day-to-day wastewater operations while working closely with city staff on planning and compliance activities. This arrangement allows city leadership to focus on long-term priorities, while operational and regulatory requirements are addressed through the partnership.
“From daily check-ins and planning sessions to shared costs, both teams operate as one, sharing insights, aligning goals and supporting each other’s growth. We’re actively integrating our operations, construction and engineering teams with city engineers to help build a more functional and future-ready workforce and deepen our positive impact on the community,” adds Paul.
The renewed agreement continues a public–private collaboration centered on wastewater system operations and infrastructure management in Vancouver, Washington.
