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Wastewater project

Wastewater System Expansion

Strengthening our wastewater system to serve the community today and for years to come.

We are making a major investment in our wastewater system to ensure it continues to serve our community reliably - today and into the future.

 

After a thorough analysis, we found that improvements are necessary to meet long-term needs. Without expansion, the current system is expected to reach capacity by 2028.

Map of the Wastewater Expansion Project - illustrating the crosstown interceptor in a yellow line that runs  south of Platte Avenue. It also shows the Milton E Proby Interceptor, which runs along Milton E Proby parkway and runs to the Sand Creek Lift station, which will be built east of I-25 and Milton E Proby.To address this, Phase I of the expansion will include installing 18 miles of pipeline and adding two lift stations. Future phases will include upgrades to existing facilities and construction of new infrastructure.

 

Phase I of the wastewater expansion is projected to cost $396 million.[tooltip text="This total is subject to change based on supply chain challenges, weather delays or other factors."] It will be funded through bonds, customer base-rate revenues and cost recovery from new development.

 

Project benefits

 

  • Expanded services: Ensure reliable wastewater services to support the city today and for years to come.
  • System improvements: Maximize wastewater treatment capacity and recovered water resources, making the system more efficient and sustainable.
  • Public health protections: Help safeguard public health and our water resources to ensure wastewater is safely and efficiently managed.
  • Connected services: Support daily life, work, recreation and access across the city.
  • Support growth: Provide reliable utilities within city boundaries to support an increasing population.

Project timeline

The complete expansion project will occur in phases over 50 years. Phase I construction is expected to begin in 2027. Phase I comprises three large and complex projects which include the design and construction of the following:

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Phase I (2026-2030):

  • Crosstown Interceptor
  • Milton Proby Interceptor
    • Four miles of pipeline that will carry future wastewater flow from the south to the Sand Creek Lift Station and then to the Las Vegas Water Resource Recovery Facility.
  • Two lift stations and force mains 
    • These lift stations[tooltip text="A lift station is a pumping system that moves wastewater from lower elevations to higher ones when gravity alone cannot do the job, keeping it flowing through the collection system to a treatment plant."] and mains will flow to the Milton Proby Gravity Interceptor.
    • Seven miles of force main will be added to pump wastewater from Lift Station 1 to Lift Station 2 and finally to the Milton Proby Interceptor.

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Future phases

Future phases allow flexibility to increase pumping and treatment capacity to meet demand as our community grows.

Future phases include the following:

  • Additional force mains
  • Expansion of lift stations
  • Expansion of the Las Vegas Water Resource Recovery Facility

Once complete, the Wastewater System Expansion is estimated to provide service to an additional 225,000 people.

In 2026, we expect to complete preliminary design and pre-construction activities. In 2027, we will finalize design and begin construction. We expect to finish construction in 2030.

 

Project funding

 

As a nonprofit, publicly owned utility, we work to keep our rates competitive while providing safe, reliable service.

 

To help fund this project, City Council approved a 9% base-rate increase each year from 2025 to 2029. We will also recover costs over time from developers as new homes and businesses connect to the system.

 

The money we collect now will help reduce future costs. Because of this project, we will avoid the need to build a new wastewater treatment facility. A new facility would have cost more and would have been financed by customers without help from developers.

 

Contact us

 

If you have questions or comments about this project, email us at engage@csu.org or call us at (719) 668-7765. We will share updates on this page as the schedule develops. 

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