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    Gettysburg Municipal Authority

    Small municipal water & wastewater utility

    Population

    ~12,000

    Assets

    Conventional WTP, aging distribution, small WWTP

    Capital Context

    Incremental upgrades, high regulatory sensitivity

    Spec Behavior

    Specifications are conservative, engineer-led, and heavily precedent-driven.

    • Single authority engineer drives basis-of-design
    • Board relies heavily on engineer recommendations
    • Procurement enforces compliance, not selection
    • Preference for technologies seen at peer utilities

    OEM Implication

    Influence the engineer early or expect a locked RFP.

    FirmRoleInfluenceNotes
    Buchart HornAuthority EngineerHighPrimary spec author
    Regional Civil FirmOn-call consultantMediumExecutes within lead design
    Specialty SubconsultantNiche studiesLowLimited spec authority

    Primary Engineer

    Buchart Horn

    Utilities Covered

    GettysburgNearby boroughs

    Geographic Pattern

    South-central Pennsylvania

    Why It Matters

    One spec win can replicate across multiple peer utilities.

    Project Types

    • Water main replacement
    • Small WTP upgrades
    • Compliance retrofits

    Technology Comfort

    Conventional filtrationHigh
    Chlorine disinfectionHigh
    Advanced treatmentLow

    Established

    • Conventional equipment OEMs

    Piloted / Evaluated

    • Packaged systems (limited)

    White Space

    • Electrochemical
    • AOP
    • Modular PFAS

    Gap Summary

    Limited exposure to emerging treatment technologies.

    Engineer Key Questions

    • Where else is this used?
    • Can we defend this to regulators?

    What Not To Do

    • Cold utility selling
    • Late RFP engagement

    What Works

    • Engage authority engineer early
    • Offer phased pilots
    • Frame as risk-reducing

    Summary

    Build trust with the authority engineer through peer references and risk-reduction framing.

    OEM TypeFitNotes
    Conventional equipmentHighEasy entry
    Modular systemsMediumNeeds proof
    Novel techLowLong cycle

    This Utility Spec Influence Profile shows how specifications are shaped in reality.

    Part of the SpecMap™ module within AquaIntel.