This issue, Precast Solutions hears from Horacio Juarez, senior project manager with CDM Smith, Inc
What’s your background and area of expertise?
Horacio Juarez
I have more than 30 years of engineering and management experience in all facets of water and wastewater infrastructure. I have water and wastewater experience in planning, design, construction management, scheduling, review and systems evaluation/analysis. I have experience in field inspection and construction management services for water, wastewater and storm sewer projects.
My expertise is the design and construction of large diameter water transmission mains and wastewater interceptors. I also have extensive experience in the design and construction of raw water well fields and the equipping of these well fields.
What types of projects do you typically oversee?
I oversee a range of projects from facility plans and technical memorandums to water and wastewater infrastructure designs, well field design, water treatment and wastewater treatment plant improvements and construction management.
What are some noteworthy projects on which you’ve used precast concrete?
One of the noteworthy projects which precast concrete was used was for a large diameter wastewater interceptor project. The project was designed in several phases and was completed in 7 years. The 15 mile interceptor required several 60-inch and 72-inch diameter concrete manholes ranging in depths from 10-to-40 feet in some locations. A hexagon-shaped manhole was designed, precast and installed to allow two new interceptors to be added to an existing interceptor outfall.
Photo courtesy of Western Precast
Precast concrete products were used for a large street and drainage project for the City of El Paso thanks to the material’s ease of installation, durability and affordability.
Why was precast chosen for this project?
Precast was selected for the project because of ease of installation, affordability, durability and the ability to withstand natural conditions.
Photo courtesy of Western Precast
Why is precast concrete beneficial for wastewater projects?
Precast concrete is beneficial to wastewater projects because of its compressive strength in deep installations, low maintenance, and it can be customized for any situation.
How do you see the role of precast concrete as a building material changing in the future?
Concrete is the most used building material. Precast concrete has played a big role in the past and will do so in the future when it comes to building infrastructure that needs to be affordable, aesthetically pleasing and environmentally friendly.
Leave a Reply