ATEC Water Systems is proud to recognize the Cascade Groundwater Alliance Supply Development Program, which recently received the 2026 Excellence in Engineering Award in the Large Project Category from the Pacific Northwest Section of the American Water Works Association (PNWS-AWWA).

The award recognizes a significant regional effort to strengthen long-term water reliability for communities across East Multnomah County, Oregon. Through strategic planning, regional collaboration, and infrastructure investment, the program is helping secure a resilient groundwater supply for more than 138,000 residents.

Building Long-Term Water Resilience

The Cascade Groundwater Alliance was established to develop a reliable supplemental water supply capable of supporting future growth, drought resilience, emergency preparedness, and long-term water security for participating communities.

The award-winning program includes new groundwater production wells, transmission infrastructure, storage facilities, and advanced groundwater treatment systems designed to provide dependable drinking water for decades to come.

By combining regional planning with modern treatment technology, the program demonstrates how utilities can proactively address future water challenges while maintaining operational flexibility and cost-effectiveness.

ATEC’s Role in the Rockwood Treatment Facility

ATEC supported water treatment pilot testing at the Rockwood groundwater treatment facility and later manufactured the 32 MGD treatment system while also providing startup assistance as part of the broader initiative.

The facility represents a key component of the overall supply development program and reflects the value of practical, scalable groundwater treatment solutions that can be adapted to local water quality conditions and long-term operational needs.

Projects of this scale require close collaboration between utilities, engineers, contractors, equipment suppliers, and operations teams. The successful delivery of the Rockwood facility demonstrates the importance of that partnership approach.

Recognition of Engineering Excellence

According to Brian Ginter of CONSOR Engineers:

“Being part of the Cascade Groundwater Alliance’s supply development program has been especially meaningful to me because it serves the community where I was raised. It has shown what long-term planning, innovative funding, and practical groundwater treatment can make possible when the goal is to build a reliable, resilient, and cost-effective water supply for the future.”

The award highlights the importance of long-term planning, collaborative engineering, innovative funding approaches, and operationally practical groundwater treatment solutions in supporting future community water needs.

Congratulations to the Project Team

ATEC congratulates CONSOR Engineers, Jacobs, the Cascade Groundwater Alliance, Rockwood Water PUD, the City of Gresham, operators, contractors, and all project partners involved in delivering this award-winning program.

This recognition reflects what can be achieved when communities, utilities, engineers, and technology providers work together toward a shared goal: providing safe, reliable, and resilient drinking water infrastructure for future generations.