The Sheboygan engineering firm of Donohue & Associates, Inc. received the prestigious 2008 Global Grand Project Innovation Award from the International Water Association (IWA) for its design of the North Shore Sanitary District's Biosolids Vitrification Facility in Zion, Illinois. It was one of only five projects to receive a Global Grand Award. The award recognizes excellence and innovation in water engineering projects throughout the world.

The award was presented at the biennial IWA World Water Congress in Vienna, Austria. On hand to accept the award was North Shore Sanitary District Trustee Jim Swarthout (pictured on the left) and Donohue President Larry Teunissen (center of photo). The award was presented by William Dee, chair of the Global Judging Panel.

The award was presented by William Dee, chair of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. Dee stated “We all recognize that we live in extraordinary times, and it will take extraordinary thinking to solve our most pressing environmental problems. The importance of creating elegant and effective solutions for the world’s environmental problems is not only timely, but essential. These winners have raised the bar in solving some of the most pressing challenges.”

The North Shore Sanitary District's sludge recycling facilities are the first in the world to convert municipal biosolids into a reusable glass aggregate. Each day, up to 187 tons of municipal biosolids are transformed into 7.5 tons of glass aggregate using an innovative drying and melting process.

This collaborative project between the District and the design engineer, Donohue & Associates, Inc. has resulted in the implementation of the most environmentally sound biosolids disposal ever developed. The glass aggregate has no risk of soil or groundwater contamination since microorganisms in the biosolids, such as bacteria and viruses, are destroyed through the heating processes. Trace metals and other inorganic materials that may be present are permanently stabilized within the glass matrix and can not seep into the environment.

The District has a 20-year agreement to sell the glass aggregate, which is permitted for use in construction fill, cement/concrete products, and utility trench fill.

The biosolids drying and melting process offers many benefits to municipal wastewater treatment systems. These benefits include eliminating long-term dependence on landfill disposal, providing residents and local industries with a cost-effective alternative for managing biosolids, and providing public agencies with a more comprehensive and integrated approach to solid waste management.

The North Shore Sanitary District provides wastewater conveyance and treatment to the eastern half of Lake County, Illinois. The District owns and operates three advanced wastewater treatment plants serving approximately 350,000 people across 112 square miles.

Donohue has been providing engineering services to the North Shore Sanitary District since the firm was formed in 1997.