DENVER (KDVR) — The city of Arvada announced this week that it has selected and approved the purchase of a replacement site for the nearly-50-year-old Arvada Water Treatment Plant.
The new site is located just west of Highway 93 and West 66th Parkway at 6809 State Highway 93, the city said Thursday.
The land will be annexed into the city as part of the acquisition, according to the city, which said doing so marks “a significant step forward” in its long-term water infrastructure planning.
“As Arvada continues to focus on being adaptable and future ready, ensuring safe, reliable water for our community remains a top priority,” said Jacqueline Rhoades, director of infrastructure for the city, in a statement. “This land purchase marks a key milestone in our commitment to modernizing critical infrastructure while planning responsibly for decades ahead.”
The water treatment plant replacement project is being funded through bonds, customer rates, fees and developer-paid system development charges, rather than general tax dollars.
The city said several “key factors” went into the selection of the site, including:
- Lower potential of groundwater, reducing construction costs and long-term maintenance.
- Property shape that allows for easier construction and efficient site layout.
- Minimal disruption to the natural viewscape in the area.
- Better terrain for construction and operations.
- A property size that provides flexibility for future expansions or new treatment processes as technology and regulations evolve.
- Elevation that enables water to be delivered by gravity to most of the city, increasing resilience with fewer pump stations.
The city said the location will provide both financial and operational advantages in the present, along with “space and adaptability needed to serve the community for generations to come.”
“The final site chosen meets many critical criteria that make it the most cost-effective and operationally feasible option for the long term,” the city said in a release.
Construction on the new water treatment plant is expected to begin next year, according to the city, which said the new plant has an anticipated operational date in 2030 and is intended to last “for decades.”
The current Arvada Water Treatment Plant was built in 1979 and only designed for seasonal use, according to the city, which said the facility is “approaching the end of its useful life.”
Amid the site selection process, the city said it conducted a “siting study” in 2023 that included community engagement. Key themes that arose from the community included cost effectiveness, preservation of open space and “ensuring continued safe and reliable delivery of high-quality water,” the city said.
The city said it considered renovating or rebuilding at the current site, but ultimately determined doing so was not a viable option, as doing so would have been more expensive and not resolved design challenges or resilience concerns.
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