Thursday was a red-letter day for the Upper Thomspon Sanitation District as federal, state, and local officials gathered under a tent at the wastewater treatment plant on Mall Road to celebrate being granted $96 million in a federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan and another $18 million in Colorado loans for constructing a new wastewater treatment plant.
The UTSD board projects that the new facility will cost $80 million to build. The WIFIA loan accounts for 80% of what might be as much as a $127 million project cost, which is estimated to save rate-payers $79 million over the life of the loan. WIFIA provides long-term, low-cost supplemental loans for regionally and nationally significant projects.
“It’s a really historic investment,” said KC Becker, administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency Mountains and Plains Region 8, noting that the financing being provided is the biggest WIFIA program loan to come to Colorado in the last in the last 10 years. “This speaks to the importance, the need, and a well written proposal,” Becker said.
Chris Bieker, district manager for the UTSD recalled that this is not the first time the EPA has stepped up to assist Upper Thompson during times of critical need through its grants and loan programs, citing the 1976 Big Thompson River flood, the 1982 Lawn Lake Flood, and most recently, the 2013 flood event that severely impacted the Fall River and Fish Creek Corridors.
The current project would not be possible without the WIFIA team, he said as he thanked the EPA for its assistance. “We’re also grateful for the Investment in America Act, partnerships with the Town of Estes Park, the Bureau of Reclamation and all our federal partners,” he said.
UTSD service area includes 44 square miles serving 4,500 people, Rocky Mountain National Park, and the YMCA of the Rockies-Estes Park Center.
The current wastewater treatment plant was a state-of-the art facility when it was built, Bieker said. While it has faced many challenges throughout its 50-year history serving the community, there have been no substantial upgrades and now has no space to expand. Without major upgrades and expansion, the plant cannot meet coming federal effluent guidelines.
“It cannot evolve with the community. “Doing nothing is not an option,” Bieker said.
With construction of the new facility, Mayor Gary Hall said the community was looking forward to the next stage of having “pristine water and environmental care.”
In the planning stages for about 10 years, UTSD plans to break ground on the new treatment plant later this year or in early 2025. With the loans, the district will construct the new water reclamation facility and two lift stations while implementing new treatment technology to enhance the quality of wastewater discharged into the Big Thompson River watershed which serves as a source of drinking water to several downstream communities. When finished the project will provide wastewater services to an estimated 16,000 residents and summer visitors, 4.5 million annual visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park.
Ummm- wasn’t the last rate hike supposed to cover the costs of a new facility?
Taxpayers are the municipal, County, and State stake holders!
But in addition be being taxed by the three aforementioned entities- stake holders will be taxed yet a third time?
How much of this funding will be allocated to the debunked Green Energy narrative?
Spread sheets anyone?
Agree. In the spirit of transparency, green energy costs need to be broken out.
The Town has a separate wastewater treatment plant. Is it going to be merged into the Upper Thompson’s system when its new plant is built? The Town’s plant will have to meet the same federal effluent regulations coming in 2028. Plus, it seems there could be some savings in administration overhead having one organization managing wastewater treatment.
Agree!!!!! The trustees should do a study session on costs, benefits and logistics of merging our two sewer systems into one organization. Reducing administrative personnel, overhead & duplicated equipment, disaster resilience, better positioning for grants, loans, etc. are some of the benefits that come immediately to mind.