Black & Veatch has been awarded a contract by the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) to perform an alignment study and detailed design for the Bi-County Water Supply Main Project. The approximately 9,150 m-long, 2.1 m-diameter supply main will help WSSC meet increasing water consumption needs in Prince George's County and provide reliable system pressure in Montgomery County. The study phase of the project includes assessment of social and community impacts and an extensive community outreach programme, as well as geophysical testing to define rock profile and subsurface characteristics. The study requires careful consideration and balancing of technical, economic, public, political and environmental factors to identify the preferred alignment and best method of construction. Construction alternatives under consideration are cut-and-cover pipeline, hard rock tunnel and a combination of methods. The alignment study is scheduled for completion in mid to late 2005, and the detailed design will be completed approximately one year later. When construction is completed (estimated 2008) , the new supply main will provide reliable conveyance of drinking water and help maintain pressure in the distribution system. Visit www.bv.com and www.wsscwater.com 42/04.