Commitment to Sustainability and Efficient Planning Execution Earns Civil Engineer Recognition in Innovative Project in Kansas

Climbing the ladder to recognition can be quite challenging during the execution of a project, especially when the goals are ambitious and aimed at benefiting a specific community. On the other hand, successful results can later make it easier to explain—and, consequently, to understand—everything that was implemented for the strategic plan to end in such success.

The contribution made by Rajthilak Ganesan to a project based in the state of Kansas, in the United States, has become a perfect case study of noteworthy elements, particularly during the implementation of the final control process. This helps bridge any perceived gap when explaining that the recognition received was well-deserved. Even more so, it reinforces the message that these same measures have a lot to offer in future similar initiatives.

The project, detailed below, was built upon key knowledge acquired throughout the career of the Indian expert. One of these key areas is Sustainability, a critical element in water treatment plant projects like the one in question.

Another highlight, already addressed in previous discussions regarding Rajthilak Ganesan’s contributions, involves the efficiency achieved through Performance Management, properly applied throughout the project’s execution.

"Combining Sustainability with effective Performance Management is essential for any project aiming for long-term benefits. First, it’s a matter of social responsibility for any service provider. In this context, social, economic, and environmental aspects all come into play and are crucial to the discussion. Secondly, we can talk about the efficiency achieved by the organization responsible for execution, such as cost reduction and the credibility gained through the delivery of a high-quality project."

Project Information

The new water treatment plant has a capacity of 120 million gallons per day (MGD) of potable water. This volume is expected to serve around 20% of the population of Kansas, located in the central United States. According to the most recent data, the state has nearly three million residents, meaning the project has the potential to serve approximately 600,000 people.

The project in which Rajthilak Ganesan is involved—through the Northwest Water Treatment Facility—is being built on a 40-acre site (approximately 17 hectares) with a budget of $500 million. As previously mentioned, the plant will supply around 20% of Kansas's population with clean water and has generated over 1,800 jobs, most of them local.

This is the largest infrastructure investment in the history of Wichita, a city in Kansas. More than 77% of the contracts remained within the local economy. Around 200 local suppliers and contractors participated in the project, resulting in over $62 million in contracts awarded to emerging and disadvantaged businesses, and over $400 million to locally based companies.

"Investing in the community's economy is undoubtedly one of the best ways to promote Sustainability. These are opportunities created both directly and indirectly. In the short term, we see enormous benefits, while the most important one remains: improving the quality of life for this population in the long term. Through analyses promoted during the control stage of proper Performance Management, we are also able to predict—and later measure—the benefits brought to both the community and the organization. It’s a dual-impact growth, with advantages for all stakeholders involved."

Career Growth and Expertise

In his current role, Rajthilak Ganesan serves as Assistant Construction Manager at Burns & McDonnell Engineering, the company responsible for the water treatment plant in Kansas. Passionate about engineering innovation and committed to Sustainability, the Indian specialist continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in his field, with a focus on improving infrastructure and serving communities through the work he performs.

Rajthilak Ganesan is originally from Tamil Nadu, India, and is a Civil Engineer whose qualifications stem from a diverse background in research and construction management. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering in India and worked as a Research Associate at the prestigious CSIR – Structural Engineering Research Centre in Chennai.

During that period, he had the opportunity to collaborate with some of India’s leading scientists in the field of concrete technology, gaining valuable experience and knowledge—something he considers a privilege. His dedication and efforts earned him certifications, awards, and invitations to speak at conferences. One of these certifications is in Project Management Professional (PMP), a globally recognized credential that provides direction and governance for international Project Management practices.

"I am proud to play a key role in managing the schedule, costs, and risks of this $500 million project. I’ve earned the respect of the project team and the client through my dedication, work ethic, and ability to handle challenging situations with professionalism, contributing significantly to the success of this landmark project. Critical decisions related to schedule and cost management have a direct impact on the company’s profitability and reputation, which makes my contributions highly relevant to its continued success,” says Rajthilak Ganesan.

Motivated by a desire to expand his knowledge, Rajthilak Ganesan moved to the United States to pursue a Master’s in Civil Engineering at California State University, Fullerton. There, he continued his research focusing on cementitious materials, which resulted in a master’s thesis and the publication of a scientific paper. During this time, he actively participated in several conferences and presentations, sharing his findings with the international engineering community.

Further recognition for his dedication to the project came from his status as an experienced professional in construction management, having worked on several complex water and wastewater projects. He has extensive experience in scheduling, cost management, planning, development, budgeting, project control, and forecasting.

Rajthilak Ganesan has also played a key role in coordinating the procurement of major equipment packages, construction sequencing and phasing, work planning, and quality management for both in-house teams and contractors. His experience spans traditional and collaborative delivery models, including design-build projects. Since 2023, he has been serving as Assistant Construction and Project Controls Manager at the Northwest Water Facility in Wichita.