Desalination Facilities Named Top Texas Engineering Project NEWS RELEASE Contact: Karol Parker, Public Affairs Officer 915-594-5692 (office), e-mail: kparker@epwu.org Date: April 14, 2008 El Paso – The team of Moreno Cardenas Inc. (MCi) and Camp Dresser & McKee (CDM) received the Eminent Conceptor Award for the design of El Paso Water Utilities’ Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Facilities. The award was presented by the Texas Council of Engineering Companies at its annual meeting in Irving, Texas. The Eminent Conceptor Award recognizes the desalination facilities as the top engineering project in Texas for 2008. The criteria included originality, technical complexity, value to the engineering profession, success in meeting client needs and value to the community. This is the first time an El Paso project has won the award in the 33-year history of the Texas Engineering Excellence Awards Competition. “The Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Facilities are receiving industry-wide attention due to their inland location and unique method of concentrate disposal,” said El Paso Water Utilities President and CEO Ed Archuleta. “These facilities are a key component in our multi-faceted water resource management program and a model for arid inland cities looking to meet long-term water needs.” Project Background Named after Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who was instrumental in procuring $26 million in federal grants for the $87.5 million project, El Paso’s inland desalination plant is the largest facility of its kind in the world. The MCi/CDM team began planning, design and construction management in 2001. “The vision of the Public Service Board and its management in recognizing the potential of feasibly tapping and desalinating the brackish water zones of the Hueco Bolson resulted in a successful, long-term source of water for our community,” said MCi’s Joe Cardenas. “It was a privilege and an honor to work on all phases of this flagship project. On behalf of CDM and our firm I would like to thank El Paso Water Utilities for giving us the opportunity to design this engineering project.” Consultant Teams Cardenas led the consultant team that designed more than 50 miles of off-site pipelines and other infrastructure associated with the project. The firm also provided oversight for numerous project sub-consultants and worked closely with Fort Bliss officials and local and state agencies.  (l-r) Paul Gorder, Camp Dresser & McKee; Ed Archuleta,  El Paso Water Utilities; Joe Cardenas, Moreno Cardenas  Inc. CDM’s role focused on the preliminary and final design of the desalination plant and the concentrate disposal facilities. This included numerous engineering studies and pilot-scale research involving the University of Texas at El Paso and several subcontractors. According to Paul Gorder, senior vice president and project director for CDM’s work, the desalination facilities provide a new, sustainable source of drinking water to El Paso and Fort Bliss, while serving as a model and center of learning for other communities with limited water resources. He said, “CDM is both appreciative and proud of the opportunity to be associated with this internationally recognized project.” Based in El Paso, MCi provides engineering and construction management services to public and private sector clients. CDM is a global consulting firm specializing in environmental engineering and sciences with offices worldwide. The firm has had an office in El Paso since 1995.