40-Year Fix: Award-Winning Electrical Upgrade Secures Water Facility’s Future

Jacobs and Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services in Virginia have received a 2025 National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) for the successful rehabilitation of the Noman M. Cole, Jr. Water Recycling Facility’s electrical systems.

The award recognizes the Motor Control Centers and Distribution Centers (MCC-DC) Replacement Project—a $79 million, 14-year capital initiative that modernized the facility’s aging electrical infrastructure. Jacobs served as lead design firm and provided services throughout construction.

The upgrades included new switchgear, motor control centers and enhancements to electrical, instrumentation and control systems. These improvements are designed to ensure the facility’s reliability, safety and continuous operation for the next 40 years.

“This was a complex, long-term project that required careful planning and precise execution,” says Jacobs Senior Vice President Scott Weikert. “Maintaining uninterrupted treatment operations while sequencing electrical loads from old to new systems was key to success.”

To avoid disruptions and maintain compliance with strict environmental discharge permits, the project was completed in phases over six years. The team coordinated closely with existing equipment, ongoing construction efforts and future upgrades to ensure seamless integration.

Fairfax County, one of the most populous counties in Virginia and the Washington D.C. metro area, is home to more than 1.2 million people and the Noman M. Cole, Jr. Water Recycling Facility treats approximately 67 million gallons of wastewater per day.

The annual ACEC Engineering Excellence Awards honor standout engineering projects that exemplify innovation and positive societal impact. Projects are reviewed by a panel of industry, government and academic experts.