Who We Are
Stephen C. Olson, P.E.
Steve is a founding partner and President of H2Olson Engineering, Inc. Steve’s career in the drinking water industry has spanned over 30 years as a Consulting Engineer, Water Utility Manager, and Educator. As a Consulting Engineer Mr. Olson has served in the role as Sr. Principal and Sr. Project Manager, successfully leading and completing multi-faceted projects representing every aspect of public drinking water. As a Utility Manager, Steve has served in the role of Massachusetts Director of Operations for the largest private water utility company in New England (Aquarion Water Company), Water Superintendent, and Technical Advisor for over half a dozen water systems in Massachusetts. As an Educator, Mr. Olson has served on the New England Water Works Association Corrosion Control Committee as an instructor for over 15 years.
Steve has published several papers and given numerous presentations on water supply, quality, treatment, distribution, and regulatory compliance. Steve is a Past President of the Massachusetts Water Works Association (MWWA) and current President of the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA). Steve is also an active member and Committee Chair for several drinking water associations including the Connecticut Section of the American Water Works Association, the Massachusetts Water Works Association, the Plymouth County Water Works Association, the Barnstable County Water Utility Association, the Maine Water Utility Association, and several other professional associations.
Steve obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Civil Engineering and Masters of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and a certified water system operator in Massachusetts and Rhode Island (4T and 4D). Steve’s background and experience with water systems in New England has established him as a regional expert in drinking water quality, treatment, operations, and regulatory compliance.
About H2Olson Engineering, Inc.
Experience from a Water System's Perspective
At H2Olson Engineering, Inc. our passion and focus is public drinking water, and every aspect of supply, treatment, distribution, operations, and regulatory compliance. As Professional Consulting Engineers, Water Utility Managers, Licensed Water System Operators, and Water Association Leaders, H2Olson Engineering, Inc. has a unique perspective on the challenges of today’s public water systems to consistently produce and supply high quality drinking water for its customers. Our project experience includes planning, studies, facility audits, design, permitting, bidding assistance, construction management, and operations assistance for a variety of drinking water systems and facilities. We have experience conducting water quality and treatment research projects as well as desk-top, bench-scale, pilot-scale, and full-scale treatment studies. There is no project too small, too large, or too complicated.
We enjoy challenges and work closely with our clients to meet their needs, through relationship building and partnering to achieve success. Our close working relationships with our clients, and unique experiences as water system managers and operators, allow us to better understand our clients specific needs and produce effective solutions and results. Our commitment is high quality service and our goal as your consulting engineer is to become the firm that you measure every other consulting engineering company against.
Optimizing Treatment - Pilot Scale Level
Project Experience and Services
Water Supply
Developing (exploratory drilling, permitting, design, and construction) both new, replacement, and satellite groundwater supply sources, optimizing surface water supplies using Firm Yield and Safe Yield studies, and protecting existing sources with watershed management programs for both groundwater and surface water supplies.
Treatment
Desk-top Evaluations; Bench Scale Treatment Studies; Pilot Scale Treatability Studies; Full Scale Demonstration Testing; Facility Audits; Operations Assistance – all facets of physical, chemical, and biological drinking water treatment to ensure the consistent production of high quality drinking water.
Distribution
Pump stations, metering, transmission and distribution mains, storage, pressure reducing and sustaining valve stations, and hydraulic modeling – moving high quality drinking water and service to your customers.
Project Experience and Services
Planning, Design, Permitting, Procurement, and Construction Phase Services
Helping Clients each step of the way from concept to concrete. No matter the complexity of the size, we guide Clients each step of the way with both horizontal and vertical public works projects.
Hydraulic Modeling, GIS Mapping and Asset Management
Hydraulic modeling of transmission and distribution systems (WaterGEMS & InfoWater); GIS mapping and asset management services.
Water System Operations Assistance
Water facility audits, Comprehensive Performance Evaluations, and Full Scale Demonstration Testing. Helping systems optimize treatment and operations by getting down to basics for the safe, reliable, effective and efficient production of high quality drinking water and maintaining regulatory compliance.
Filter Media Replacement with GAC
Full scale demonstration test and design/construction of a filter media replacement project for the removal of PFAS using GAC as filter media at a 6.5 MGD surface water treatment plant in Braintree, Massachusetts. The existing mixed media filters (garnet sand, filter sand, anthracite) were replaced with 6” of 0.5 mm filter sand and 42” of 8x30 mesh GAC. The new GAC/filter sand media depths and sizes were designed to ensure a similar L/D ratio as the existing mixed media and an EBCT of 10 minutes for the GAC. PFAS was successfully removed and filtered water effluent turbidities and filter run