Placer County’s Facility Services Department received the “2011 Project of the Year Award” in the Environmental Category from the Sacramento Chapter American Public Works Association (APWA) for the Auburn Ravine Lift Station Improvement Project.

Located near the intersection of Auburn Ravine Road and Oak Tree Drive in Auburn, the facility pumps sewage to a pipeline that conveys wastewater to the county treatment plant on Joeger Road in North Auburn.

The Auburn Ravine Lift Station is the largest lift station in Sewer Maintenance District 1 (SMD-1). Built in 1959, it contained aging equipment and structures. The lift station improvement project increased capacity, modernized the lift station to provide for more efficient operation and flow management during storm events, and reduced the risk of sewer overflows. $2 million in funding was provided by the Placer County Redevelopment Agency.

“These improvements reduce the risk of endangering the environment and help to reduce costs to the rate payers in SMD #1,” said District 3 Supervisor Jim Holmes.

The APWA Sacramento Chapter Awards program recognizes projects that demonstrate excellence in management, administration, design, construction and community relations, as well as the alliance among the managing agency and the consultant/engineer/contractor who worked together to complete the public works project.