Part II in a series examining the Town of Estes Park’s 2026 Water Master Plan. Click here to read Part I.
Much of Estes Park’s drinking water system is working as intended today, but the Town of Estes Park’s 2026 Water Master Plan warns that aging infrastructure, limited backup capacity, and growing maintenance needs could create significant challenges in the years ahead.
The 1,192-page report paints a picture of a water system that requires substantial investment to maintain service, improve resiliency, and prepare for future demands.
Reuben Bergsten, the town’s utilities director, Jacqui Wesley, the utilities project manager and water manager, and Jason Fredericks, the water superintendent, sat down with the Estes Valley Voice for an interview to review the master plan report, which evaluated the structural, mechanical, and electrical conditions of the water treatment plants and storage tanks to pumps, pipelines, electrical systems, and cybersecurity protections.
As part of the plan, consultants from Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, LLC, a civil and environmental engineering firm based in Englewood, assessed each component based on two key factors: its physical condition and its criticality to the delivery of safe drinking water. Assets that are both aging and essential to operations were ranked by priority for future improvements.
Two treatment plants, each with limitations
Unlike many communities that rely on a single treatment facility, Wesley explained that Estes Park operates two water treatment plants that work together year-round.
The Marys Lake Water Treatment Plant, built in 1992 and upgraded in 2010, can produce up to 4 million gallons of water per day. The Glacier Creek Water Treatment Plant, originally built in 1971 and subsequently expanded several times, can treat up to 3 million gallons per day.
While having two plants provides flexibility, each depends on a single water source, and each has seasonal limitations, said Wesley.
Glacier Creek water becomes difficult to treat during spring runoff when snowmelt carries increased sediment, organic matter, and discoloration into the creek. Marys Lake, meanwhile, experiences seasonal taste and odor issues caused by algae blooms later in the summer.
As a result, neither plant can operate year-round on its own. Town staff shift operations between the facilities throughout the year and operate both plants simultaneously during the peak summer tourism season when demand is highest.
The master plan notes that operating both plants simultaneously improves reliability but also highlights the need for additional redundancy to reduce the risk of service disruptions.
“Our Glacier Creek plant is high risk. It’s an older plant, older technology. And the biggest thing is it has almost no redundancy, so if something breaks or fails, there’s no work around,” said Wesley.
Marys Lake plant rated in good condition
Engineers gave the Marys Lake Water Treatment Plant an overall rating of “good,” but identified numerous components approaching the end of their useful life.
Among the most significant concerns is the plant’s ultrafiltration membrane system, which removes tiny particles and contaminants from drinking water. The system currently lacks sufficient backup capacity, meaning all three membrane units must operate to achieve full production.
The plan recommends redundancy so the plant can continue operating if one of the membrane systems fails. Engineers also identified aging electrical equipment, deteriorating valves, corrosion in several treatment components, groundwater infiltration into parts of the facility, and an aging storage tank that will require rehabilitation.
The report also notes that the plant’s wastewater discharge limitations could restrict future expansion unless improvements are made.
Glacier Creek plant requires more extensive upgrades
The Glacier Creek Water Treatment Plant presents greater concerns.
Engineers rated the facility in fair-to-poor condition and assigned it one of the highest criticality scores in the entire system, meaning problems at the plant could significantly affect water operations.
One of the biggest challenges is that the plant’s filters struggle to treat Glacier Creek water during spring runoff, forcing the facility to go offline for part of the year. The report states that the filter system needs urgent upgrades to improve performance and reliability.
The assessment also identified an inoperable backwash pump, roof leaks, deteriorating concrete, corrosion, aging electrical systems, and the absence of emergency backup power. Engineers found little redundancy throughout the facility, meaning the failure of a single component could disrupt operations.
In addition, Glacier Creek lacks reliable sanitary sewer service to handle treatment waste streams, a limitation that could complicate future expansion efforts.
Aging water lines remain a concern
Beyond the treatment plants, the master plan found that portions of Estes Park’s distribution system continue to show signs of age.
The town maintains more than 125 miles of water pipeline. While most of the network consists of newer ductile iron pipe, approximately 11 miles of older galvanized steel and cast-iron pipe remain in service. Engineers say those materials have exceeded their expected lifespan and are more prone to breaks and service interruptions.
More than one-quarter of the town’s water lines are smaller than six inches in diameter. Those smaller pipes can limit water delivery capacity and reduce available fire protection in some neighborhoods.
The study identified localized areas with low water pressure, areas with excessively high pressure, undersized pipelines, and locations where available fire flow falls below recommended levels. Several of those same issues were identified in the town’s 2015 Water Master Plan and remain unresolved.
Storage tanks need attention
Water storage tanks serve as the community’s reserve supply, helping maintain pressure during periods of high demand and providing water for firefighting.
The master plan found that several tanks are in fair to poor condition. Three facilities — the Castle Mountain, Fall River, and Thunder Mountain tanks — were identified as needing major repairs or eventual replacement.
The report also found storage deficits in portions of the system. While water can sometimes be transferred between pressure zones to compensate, those transfers depend on storage tanks being nearly full, a condition that does not occur consistently.
Chemical storage and safety improvements planned
The assessment also reviewed how treatment chemicals are stored and handled throughout the system.
Engineers recommended numerous safety improvements, including separating incompatible chemicals, upgrading storage areas, and improving transfer systems used by plant operators. Several facilities may require modifications to meet current building and safety standards because of the volume and types of chemicals stored on-site.
Modern threats require modern protections
The master plan extends beyond pipes and pumps to include electrical systems, computer controls, and cybersecurity.
The town’s water system relies on a sophisticated supervisory control and data acquisition system, known as SCADA, which allows operators to monitor and control facilities remotely.
Assessments conducted in 2023 and 2024 identified aging electrical equipment, inadequate surge protection, and vulnerabilities to lightning strikes and power interruptions. The report recommends replacing outdated electrical components, improving backup power systems, and upgrading protections for critical computer and communications equipment.
At Glacier Creek, engineers recommended installing dedicated standby power to keep the plant operating during electrical outages.
Preparing for the next 20 years
Wesley said that the findings do not indicate an immediate threat to drinking water quality or service. Rather, the master plan serves as a roadmap for identifying infrastructure that will require investment over the next two decades.
Many of the recommended projects focus on replacing aging equipment before it fails, improving redundancy so backup systems are available when needed, and ensuring the community can continue to meet water demands during emergencies, wildfires, droughts, and peak tourism seasons.
Those improvements, however, come with significant costs. Later this year, results from a utility rate study will help determine how future infrastructure investments identified in the master plan could be funded.
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