CIVIL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FOR MUNICIPAL AND PUBLIC PROJECTS 

Trotter and Associates, Inc. (TAI) continues its partnership with the DuPage County Department of Stormwater Management on the rehabilitation of the West Lobe Pump Station at the Elmhurst Quarry Flood Control Facility. This critical infrastructure serves as a flood control system by storing excess flow during major rain events and later pumping stormwater back to Salt Creek once conditions recede.  Independent Mechanical Industries, Inc., and their subcontractors are on schedule for the West Lobe Pump Station to be returned to service this fall. Over the last several months, the team completed installation of four 500-hp pumps and rehabilitation of the discharge piping supports along the 100-foot quarry highwall. Additionally, the pump station’s electrical system was upgraded with a 2,500-amp switchboard and VFDs to provide a long-term reliable electrical system for the facility.

Construction of the City of Woodstock's 2025 Enhanced Street Program, which improves 8.4 miles of roadway, began last month. These improvements include both resurfacing and reconstruction of local residential/commercial streets, as well as higher traffic volume collector and arterial streets. During the design phase, TAI engineers performed a comprehensive evaluation using pavement cores, PCI ratings, and in-person field assessments to determine the most cost-effective and appropriate improvement for each roadway segment. To maximize value and minimize disruption, cement-stabilized full-depth reclamation (FDR) was selected as the reconstruction method for qualifying streets. FDR recycles the existing aggregate and subgrade materials by blending them with Portland cement and water, creating a strong, stable base ready for paving, without the need to haul in new aggregate. This sustainable approach not only reduces cost and environmental impact but also significantly minimizes disruption to residents. We’re proud to partner with the City of Woodstock in delivering efficient solutions for our municipal clients and their residents. 

Trotter and Associates, Inc., along with Manusos General Contracting, Inc., recently completed the Well 7 Radium Improvements Project for the City of Sycamore. This project was guided by the City’s 2019 Water Master Plan, also developed by Trotter, and focused on upgrading radium removal from the municipal water supply.  Upgrades included the construction of a new treatment facility equipped with a hydrous manganese oxide (HMO) filtration system. The facility features dedicated rooms for HMO chemical mixing and feed systems, chlorine dosing, and electrical controls. The system was brought online earlier this spring and is now fully operational, significantly improving the City’s water treatment capabilities to continue to provide safe, high-quality drinking water.

Phase I Improvements at the City of Woodstock’s South Wastewater Treatment Plant are progressing on schedule, with the chemical phosphorus removal system expected to come online this fall, marking the first significant milestone of the project. The strong performance of Manusos General Contracting and their team of subcontractors has been key to staying on track. Manusos has led structural concrete work and continues to manage overall construction efforts. RV Builders completed the construction of the ground face masonry block building shell, while Dahme Mechanical Industries installed under-slab plumbing and process piping. Associated Electrical Contractors has completed under-slab electrical work, and Jim Burke Excavating handled earthwork and installation of underground site utilities, including preparation for the new ring road. Upcoming work will focus on the chemical building systems, rehabilitation of the aerobic digesters, and improvements to the oxidation ditch. The project remains on track for final completion in summer 2026. Trotter and Associates, Inc. is proud to support the City of Woodstock with engineering solutions that advance water quality and infrastructure reliability for the community. 

The City of Crystal Lake has engaged Trotter and Associates, Inc. (TAI) to undertake a significant rehabilitation project at Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP) Nos. 2 and 3. This project aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the wastewater treatment processes in alignment with the City’s Wastewater Master Plan and recent Phosphorus Removal Studies. The project scope for WWTP2 will involve replacing four raw sewage pumps and the primary clarifier cross collectors, rehabilitating the secondary clarifier, and converting the tertiary filtration process from sand filters to cloth media disc filters. Similarly, the work on WWTP 3 will include rehabilitating both secondary clarifiers and converting the tertiary filtration process. These upgrades are crucial for improving the overall performance of the wastewater treatment facilities and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations. Trotter and Associates, Inc. is currently in the early stages of design, with construction expected to begin in early 2027.

The second phase of improvements to Batavia’s Wastewater Treatment Facility was broken into two sub-phases: Phase 2A Rehabilitation and Phase 2B Expansion. IHC began construction for Phase 2A on September 18 th , 2023, and will continue through 2026. This project includes intensive offsite utility replacement and realignment, bike path realignment, demolition of several large structures within the Facility, replacement of the excess flow facilities, construction of new Headworks including screening, grit removal, and odor control, construction of a new primary clarifier diversion structure, four 68’-diameter primary clarifiers, and a Primary Clarifier Control Building, construction of three new duplex raw sewage pump stations, rehabilitation of the three final clarifiers, construction of a new UV disinfection building, and replacement of the WAS thickening systems.

The Village of Barrington Hills has kicked off its 2025 Road Program, which includes HMA resurfacing along three miles of roadway and patching and striping on five miles of various roadways within the Village. With the initial removal completed, crews have begun placing reflective crack control fabric along the milled roadway. Utilization of this fabric on resurfacing projects reduces reflective cracking from the underlying pavement. It acts as a moisture barrier, all of which assist in extending the service life of the roadway. The final HMA surface placement along Spring Creek Road and Buckley Road, patching of various streets, and striping are expected to be completed in the coming months.

Trotter and Associates, Inc. (TAI) is pleased to welcome Christopher Eng as a Staff Engineer in our St. Charles, IL office. A recent graduate of the University of Illinois, Chris holds a B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with a focus in Construction Management. His well-rounded background includes three years of internships that provided hands-on experience in transportation engineering, traffic control planning, field engineering, and civil site development. Chris brings a technical mindset and a strong foundation in project coordination and design. We look forward to his contributions as he begins his career with TAI. Please join us in welcoming Chris to the team! 

Jerry Ruth, Illinois Water Environment Association (IWEA) Incoming WEF Delegate, helped kick off the 2025 Poo & Brew event at the Bittersweet WWTP in Bartlett. The program included technical presentations on recent plant improvements, high-performance grit removal, and innovative cloth media filter applications, followed by a chance to connect with colleagues at More Brewing.  Thank you to IWEA and all participants for contributing to an engaging and impactful event.

The 17th Annual FVOA Conference was a success thanks in part to the leadership of Cody Hansen, who served as Conference Chair. Trotter & Associates, Inc. also participated with Leah Fields and Karolina Schubert at our exhibitor booth, and Jerry Ruth, representing IWEA as Incoming WEF Delegate.  Congratulations to this year’s award recipients—Lance Winterland (Operator of the Year), the Village of Hanover Park (Plant of the Year), and Andy Warmus (inaugural Critical Contributor Award). Each honor reflects outstanding contributions to the field of wastewater operations.