Get Reliable & Quality Results
Meet Your Schedule & Budget
Ensure Client Satisfaction
Many projects need to evaluate hypothetical scenarios on lakes, rivers and coastlines:
- Estimating project impacts on water quality
- Optimizing project designs and evaluating alternatives
- Quantifying extreme design conditions (storm surge and waves)
This can be confusing and difficult!
To Succeed, you’ll need:
- State-of-the-art computing software
- An understanding of complex water processes
- Staff trained on the type of model software best suited for the job
Lacking these may put your project at risk
Gain Confidence Your Project Will Succeed
Get the Right Modeling
Solution
Right tool for the job
Models built to meet specific project needs
Avoid unnecessary complexity and costs
Reduce Project
Costs
Optimize project designs
Reduce permitting timeline
Save money and stay on schedule
Trusted Partner on
Your Team
Strengthen your team
Boost your reputation
We know how confusing and difficult it is to design & permit projects that affect lakes, rivers or coastlines.
Water Environment Consultants (WEC) delivers the numerical modeling services you need to feel confident your project will succeed.
Trusted By
Project Spotlights:
• WEC teamed with Wantman Group to support the design of a new fishing pier for Folly Beach, South Carolina. The design required an analysis of extreme water levels, currents, winds, scour, and wave forces acting on the structure.
• WEC used the 2D SWAN model to evaluate the wave conditions acting along the pier. The wave load calculations supported a safe and cost-efficient structural design of the new pier.
• Evonik Corporation was evaluating two potential sites for a new, precipitated silica plant, and obtaining a favorable NPDES permit was a primary deciding factor. WEC obtained the required NPDES and wastewater construction permits for the treatment and discharge of a highly salty wastewater into the Cooper River, South Carolina.
• WEC used the CORMIX model to design a single-port diffuser resulting in favorable whole effluent toxicity limits and the EFDC model to ensure the discharge would not affect the dissolved oxygen within the river.
• Under contract with Applied Technology and Management, WEC conducted an extreme conditions and modeling analysis to support the design of waterfront security improvements at the Naval Submarine Base at Kings Bay.
• WEC’s analysis included extreme hurricane storm surge simulations with the ADCIRC hydrodynamic model. The study established water level, current velocities, winds, waves, and scour potential to aid the safe and cost-efficient structural design of the facility improvements.
• Under contract with the South Carolina State Ports Authority (SCSPA), WEC evaluated the potential environmental effects from deepening and widening the federal navigation channel within rivers that have a TMDL for dissolved oxygen.
• Services included numerical modeling with a 3D application of the EFDC model to assess hydrodynamics, sedimentation, and water quality effects of the proposed deepening. The results were incorporated into the Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement and saved on the order of $100M in mitigation costs.
WEC revised the NPDES permit limitations for temperature and whole effluent toxicity (WET) for Duke Energy’s existing and new and natural gas plants, resulting in capital and operation cost savings for the plant.
• Project included field measurements for bathymetry and current velocities, numerical modeling with EFDC, and permitting support.
• Saluda County Water and Sewer Authority proposed a new, larger WWTP but was unable to acquire a new wasteload allocation at the existing site discharge due to existing dissolved oxygen impairments withing the Little Saluda River.
• Under contract with MDB Consulting Engineers, P.A, WEC completed field measurements and water quality modeling of the proposed discharge to demonstrate the project’s compliance with state water standards, potentially saving millions in project capital costs.
• Under contract with MDB Consulting Engineers, P.A, WEC completed field measurements and water quality modeling of the proposed discharge to demonstrate the project’s compliance with state water standards, potentially saving millions in project capital costs.
• WEC conducted an extreme conditions assessment for Harbor Engineering, LLC to support the expansion design for the Lyman-Morse marina.
• The study defined storm surge, wind, and wave conditions for various return periods to develop appropriate performance and survivability design criteria.
• The study defined storm surge, wind, and wave conditions for various return periods to develop appropriate performance and survivability design criteria.
• The South Carolina Ports Authority retained WEC to determine the effects on extreme storm surge levels from deepening and widening the federal navigation channel.
• WEC refined and improved FEMA’s ADCIRC model to estimate storm surge levels under pre- and post- project conditions. The analysis provided an accurate prediction of changes in storm surge elevation, which were included in the Environmental Impact Statement.
• The South Carolina Ports Authority retained WEC to design the restoration of a former 109-acre dredge spoil area into a saltwater tidal wetland.
• The project required extensive field measurements of tidal water levels, current velocities, and marsh vegetation and 2D numerical modeling to aid the wetland and tidal creek design.
• WEC prepared detailed design drawings and specifications for the wetland site, maximizing restored areas and minimizing construction costs and maintenance requirements.
• The WestRock (now Kapstone) paper plant’s existing effluent discharge within the Cooper River creates a thermal plume that attracts manatees and interferes with their normal migration pattern.
• WEC conducted depth and tidal current velocity measurements to set up and calibrate a model (EFDC and CORMIX) to simulate the discharge’s thermal mixing within the Cooper River.
• The results aided in evaluating an appropriate outfall diffuser location. Through open communication and a collaborative approach, WEC provided the preliminary design of the outfall diffuser and permitting support to increase mixing and reduce the thermal impacts.
• Terracon retained WEC to prepare the conceptual design of a tidal, freshwater restoration site from a former golf course and abandoned residential development.
• Services included site surveys, numerical modeling, and conceptual design. WEC used a 2D numerical model to simulate tidal propagation through narrow canals to aid the design of the new wetland and tidal creek system.
• The County needed to incorporate future risk from sea level rise into stormwater infrastructure improvements for the San Sebastian River drainage basin. To support the County, Applied Technology and Management (ATM) subcontracted WEC to assist them with evaluating combinations of sea level rise and hurricane storm surge in the drainage basin.
• WEC developed a storm surge analysis methodology to include improving the FEMA ADCIRC model for the region. WEC worked with ATM to complete the hurricane modeling analysis.
• The study results provide a more robust assessment of the storm surge and sea level rise scenarios within the upper St. Johns River and tidal tributaries, which the County can incorporate into stormwater infrastructure design.
What people are saying about us
”WEC is a pleasure to work with. The level of service, responsiveness & turnaround times for this type scope of work is some of the best I have experienced in my 30+ year career. They clearly provide true value for the dollar!
Dan MoorePresident I Marine Division, Straticon
”Because we renew our NPDES so infrequently, we lacked the knowledge and experience needed to negotiate a good permit – we needed help. IP hired WEC, and I realized we had picked the right consultant when I saw firsthand the regulatory and science-based positions that WEC presented were either seriously considered by the State, or were resolved to our satisfaction. By working with WEC, we now spend less on sampling, analysis, and other compliance costs, saving our facility significant money.
John BakerEnvironmental Engineering Manager, International Paper
”Over the years, SEFA has had to prepare Integrated Contingency Plans (ICPs) and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs) to meet several power generating utilities’ NPDES permit requirements. WEC’s experience working with large utilities and industrial operations eliminated any concerns that each SWPPP and or ICP would comply with the permit requirements and also reflect the utility’s culture. WEC was able to help collaborate issues with both SEFA and the utility, and having them on the team definitely made things less stressful.
Todd WilsonDirector of Environmental Services, The SEFA Group
”“Mr. Goodrich integrated seamlessly within the Corps team, and his participation in brainstorming and problem solving exercises was critical in overcoming challenging technical concepts. His expertise, professionalism and work ethic contributed greatly to the delivery of a quality project that met the aggressive timeline for completion. I would highly recommend Mr. Goodrich and Water Environment Consultants for other projects requiring environmental and water resources expertise.”
Brian Williams, P.E.Assistant Chief of Programs and Project Management Division, US Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District
”We have worked with WEC for a long time, and their combination of technical expertise, regulatory understanding, and local knowledge make them very competitive, even versus much larger firms. We have always found them to be reasonable, reliable, and prompt, saving us considerable time and stress with complex projects. WEC is a critical part of our team.
Jesse Cannon, P.EManager - Water Quality, Santee Cooper
”In several projects we have needed accurate hydrodynamic modeling work of conditions around our site. From the beginning it was clear that WEC was interested in helping us find an economical but technically sound solution. Our job is much easier, knowing we have someone like WEC as a partner who can provide reasonably priced exceptional technical support in a variety of areas. WEC solves our problems in less time, for less money, and with less stress than we would have ever expected. Exactly the kind of partner you are looking for in business.
Philip RowlandDulany Industries
”“WEC has provided a high level of service and has consistently met our high expectations. I particularly value WEC’s technical and regulatory expertise in approaching and addressing a wide range of issues with DHEC.”
Paul CalamitaChainman, AquaLaw
WEC uses these modeling tools to support project designs and provide defensible estimates of environmental effects:
Model Type
Model Software
Hydraulic & Hydrodynamic Modeling – Tides, Currents, Salinity, Temperature, Sediments & Contaminant Transport
EFDC, ADCIRC, MIKE21, RMA2 & RMA4, HEC-RAS 2D
Water Quality
EFDC, LSPC, MIKE21, WASP, CE-QUAL-W2, QUAL2E & QUAL2K
Bridge & Culvert Hydraulics and Scour
HEC-RAS 2D, SRH-2D
Hurricane Hazards – Storm Surge and Waves
ADCIRC + SWAN, WHAFIS
Effluent Plumes
CORMIX, VISUAL PLUMES, EFDC, MIKE21
Sediment Transport and Sedimentation
EFDC, MIKE21
Wave Transformation
SWAN, CGWAVE, BOUSS2D, STWAVE, MIKE21
Wetland Restoration
HEC-RAS 2D, MIKE21
With WEC on Your Team, You Get:
Seasoned Experts
For over two decades, our engineers and scientists have helped hundreds of clients
Global Experience
Local and International Projects
Advanced Numerical Modeling
Robust suite of models to optimize designs and evaluate environmental effects
Environmental Stewardship
We’ll help you maintain water quality while avoiding unnecessary environmental impacts
Technical Field Monitoring Capabilities
Experienced staff in collecting data needed for model setup and calibration
What the plan is:
Tell Us About Your Situation
We’ll discuss your project’s needs, problems, and expectations together
Receive a
Customized Solution
Our specialized experts will analyze the options and identify the right solution
Feel Relieved on the
Path to Success
You can proceed with your project, knowing we’ll solve your problem
