CIVIL ENGINEERING AND DESIGN FOR MUNICIPAL AND PUBLIC PROJECTS 

In 2022, Trotter and Associates completed a Wastewater Facility Plan Update for the Village of Algonquin. The plan outlined several capital improvement projects, including replacing the High Hill Park Interceptor Sewer. The existing sewer is located within High Hill Park Nature Preserve, along the banks of Ratt Creek, and adjacent wetlands. The Village requested a supplemental sewer relocation study be completed to evaluate alternative routing of the interceptor. Upon completion of the project, over a mile of 8-inch and 10-inch sewer will be replaced with 16-inch and 18-inch sewer. The new interceptor will be located along an adjacent street and the rear yards of residential properties, relocating the sewer from the banks of the creek, outside the nature preserve, and wetlands. This will provide the Village with improved access for future maintenance and an increased capacity for continued growth within the Village. 

In 2022, Trotter and Associates, Inc. completed an assessment of the Village of Algonquin’s Braewood Lift Station. The primary improvements focused on increasing the station’s capacity to handle the rapid growth in both the Braewood Lift Station service area and the upstream Grand Reserve Lift Station service area. With the increased capacity of the station, the velocity through the existing 10-inch force main exceeded allowable limits. To address this, a 16-inch force main was included in the design, which was constructed in 2024.  With the force main constructed, the station rehabilitation has commenced. Work within the station includes upsizing the piping and pumps, replacing the grinder, and improving both the electrical and HVAC systems. Upon completion of the work, the pumping capacity of the station will be increased from 1,500 gallons per minute (GPM) to 5,000 GPM, allowing the Village to meet both current and future development demands.

Trotter and Associates, Inc. recently completed a Wastewater Treatment Plant Consolidation Study for the Village of Addison. As a result of the study, the Village elected to fully consolidate their facilities in lieu of doing a partial consolidation or rehabilitating and upgrading their existing treatment facilities. For constructability and financing advantages, the consolidation was separated into three phases. The Trotter team has begun developing the improvements for the first phase, which includes upgrading and expanding the North Wastewater Treatment Plant. Upon completing all three phases, this facility will process all wastewater flows from within the Village. Phase one includes construction of a 44,500 square foot Garage/Laboratory/Operations Building, Screening Building, Advanced Treatment Building (low-P treatment basins, tertiary filters, and UV disinfection), and excess flow clarifiers. In addition to these new structures, the following existing processes will be improved: upgrades to the grit removal system, rehabilitation of the primary and final clarifiers, rehabilitation and expansion of the aerobic digestion process and digester gas storage, and expansion of the biological process, which includes conversion from a two-stage extended aeration process to a single-stage A2O process. Construction is planned to begin in 2026 and continue into 2030.

Previously, Trotter and Associates completed a Wastewater Facility Master Plan for the Village of Roselle’s Joseph L Devlin Wastewater Treatment Facility. The plan identified four essential projects: Plant Expansion and Phosphate Removal, Grit Removal Rehabilitation, Secondary Clarifier Replacement, and UV Disinfection Conversion. Each project identified above is interrelated and will allow the facility to meet new regulations, support Village growth, and upgrade aging infrastructure. To provide the village with the best financial and operational benefit, these projects were combined into one WWTF Plant Expansion and Nutrient Removal Upgrades project. With preliminary engineering complete, the Trotter team is working on the final design documents for the project. This phase is expected to be wrapped up in the first quarter of 2026, with bidding and construction to follow. 

Illinois American Water engaged Trotter and Associates, Inc. to assist in relocating their water main due to the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) widening of Route 31, north of Route 176. The relocation was routed adjacent to IAW’s existing wastewater treatment plant. ComEd, Nicor, and telecom utilities have either completed or are in the process of relocating their respective utilities. Stenstrom Companies Ltd completed the construction of the Illinois American Water main. The project is substantially complete, pending favorable weather conditions and the maturation of landscaping elements. 

To facilitate IDOT’s proposed widening of Illinois Route 53 at Butterfield Road, Illinois American Water was required to relocate several of its facilities within IDOT’s right-of-way. Illinois American Water retained Trotter and associates to design the relocation of a quarter mile of sanitary sewer, over a mile of water main, and a water pressure reducing station. These utility relocations are expected to begin within the next several months. 

The City of Sycamore and Trotter and Associates are continuing to improve the rehabilitation of the City’s water distribution system. This project in conjunction with those previously completed and planned will improve City-wide fire flows, pressures and water quality. The 2025 Water Main Improvements project includes upsizing the system in this area from 4-inch, 6-inch and 8-inch water main to 8-inch and 10-inch, as well as replacing mains that are prone to breaks. In conjunction with the main replacements all lead water services encountered will be replaced to the customer’s water meter.

Scott Trotter Instructing at UW-Madison for Interdisciplinary Professional Program Scott Trotter, P.E., BCEE, President of Trotter and Associates, Inc., is at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this week as an instructor for the Interdisciplinary Professional Program’s Wastewater, Pumping Systems, and Lift Stations Course on April 21-25, 2025. For this course, he joins industry experts Tom Jenkins, P.E. (JenTech, Inc.), Chris Suomi (Gorman-Rupp Engineered Systems), Chelsea Lambert (Stanley Consultants), and Adib Amini, Ph.D., P.E., ENVSP, BCEE, the Program Director in the College of Engineering. With over 35 years of experience planning, designing, and implementing infrastructure rehabilitation, expansion, and process modification projects, Scott and the consortium of instructors share valuable insights and best practices that participants can immediately apply to their projects. Trotter and Associates, Inc. is proud to support professional growth in our industry. 

Trotter and Associates, Inc. (TAI) is proud to be a platinum sponsor and to attend WATERCON 2025. The TAI team will meet with utilities, industry suppliers, consultants, and regulators to share industry insights and continue to foster relationships within the water sector. TAI specializes in water and wastewater engineering and is dedicated to addressing challenges related to development, regulatory changes, and aging infrastructure. Scott Trotter, P.E., BCEE; Steve Cieslica, P.E.; Chris Marschinke, P.E.; and Brandon Thomas, P.E. look forward to learning more about your community’s needs and initiatives.  Find us at BOOTH 248/250.

Liz Heise, P.E., TAI Project Manager, attended the 2025 Winter Water Environment Federation (WEF) Meeting in Virginia last week. The meeting allowed WEF’s volunteer committees to convene and collaborate on the programming for WEFTEC—WEF’s annual Technical Exhibition Conference. Liz is also active in the WEF’s Springboard Program, an initiative designed to empower young professionals in the water management sector. The Springboard Program provides opportunities for emerging leaders to drive innovation and help shape the future of our industry. TAI is proud to support our team’s involvement in professional organizations, such as the Water Environment Federation (WEF).