Omohundro Water Treatment Plant Advancements


Overview

The historic Omohundro Water Treatment Plant is undergoing a revolutionary transformation that will establish it as the world's most sustainable facility of its kind—simultaneously enhancing drinking water quality and expanding treatment capacity while creating an environmental showcase in the heart of Nashville. The WTP already targets LEED and Envision Platinum—a feat accomplished by no other comparable facilities—and is pursuing additional sustainability goals that exceed the two frameworks.

When Metro Water Services committed to preserving Omohundro's historic character while optimizing its performance, they partnered with Wilmot to pursue goals beyond traditional frameworks. The project’s ambitious yet achievable goals span water conservation, energy efficiency, social impact, ecological restoration, climate resilience, and greenhouse gas reduction. The plan ensures Nashville isn't simply upgrading infrastructure—it's creating the city’s environmental crown jewel that demonstrates how essential utilities can become catalysts for positive ecological transformation, climate resilience, and community engagement.

The reason is simple. If there’s something that we can do that will improve the environment, we should do it.
— Scott Potter, Director of Metro Water Services

Wilmot’s Role

This site, once an automobile landfill leaching toxins into the surrounding environment, is being transformed into a self-sustaining ecological sanctuary that demonstrates the regenerative potential of thoughtful infrastructure design, with plans to incorporate over a hundred sustainability improvements including:

  • Full-scale invasive species eradication

  • A certified research arboretum

  • All native or adaptive species

  • Native grassland and soil restoration

  • Watershed restoration:

    • Protective buffer zones

    • On-site stormwater management

    • Extensive green roof system

  • Educational programming and walking tours

  • 2MW+ of solar generation

  • Stream restoration in Shelby Bottoms Park

  • Planting an estimated 6,000 trees

Omohundro is set to be the leading example of how infrastructure modernization can simultaneously address operational needs, environmental remediation, community benefits, and climate resilience, creating a model for global replication.

Client

Metro Water Services

Location

Nashville, TN

Markets

Municipal

Water/Wastewater

Services

Feasibility Study

LEED + Envision Facilitation

Solar Installation

Triple Bottom Line Analysis

Greenhouse Gas Inventory