Water Recovery Facility Upgrade and Expansion Project

The City and County of Broomfield protects public health and the environment by treating the community wastewater through a 12 million-gallon-per-day (MGD) treatment facility. The Master Plan outlines a 13 to 15 year, $524 million capital improvement project. The improvements and upgrades will need to be completed in 5 phases. Key drivers in the costs are regulatory requirements, solids handling (biosolids), asset renewal, capacity, and reuse treatment.

The first phase of construction is expected to begin in late summer 2025. Refer to the ‘Next Steps’ section below for more details. View the full and completed Broomfield Water Recovery Facility (BWFR) Wastewater Study and Utility Plan update.

Engagement Opportunity

Neighborhood Meeting 

Construction in Phase One began in early August and will take approximately three years. Residents near the facility may experience temporary noise, traffic changes and construction activity, but efforts will be made to minimize disruptions.

Phase 1 Project Neighborhood Progress Meeting 

Join the Contractor (Moltz) and Staff to see the progress.

Thursday, March 12, 2026 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
at the Broomfield Water Recovery Administrative Building 
2985 W. 124th Ave.Water Recovery Facility Construction Site

Project Next Steps and Timeline

Due to the size of the project, funding availability and limited space at the existing facility, the overall project will be completed in five phases over 13 to 15 years.

Phase 1 of the Broomfield Water Recovery Facility Expansion Project will be presented to the Broomfield City Council at the July 22, 2025 meeting for approval. If approved, construction is anticipated to begin in August. Once approved, a construction schedule will be included.

Timeline

  • September 2022: Council Approved an Agreement with Carollo for Utility Plan Update
  • October 2023: Council Approved an Agreement with Carollo for the Design of Phase 1
  • Jan. 23, 2025: Broomfield received approval from CDPHE for the Process Design Report

Drivers for the Broomfield Water Recovery Facility Expansion Project

Population of Broomfield

Broomfield’s population is expected to continue to grow until its final build-out in 2050 to approximately 119,000. The key considerations for the expansion project include:

  • Growth and Capacity: The increase in flows and loads to the facility will exceed the facility's existing capacity.
  • Aging Infrastructure: The existing infrastructure is aging, requiring continued maintenance and replacement of components.
  • Current and Expected Future Regulations: There are current regulations that are scheduled to be implemented and future regulations that must be planned for and implemented to keep the facility in compliance with state regulations.
  • Water Resiliency for Broomfield: Maintaining the facility and recapturing as much water as possible allows Broomfield to maintain resiliency. 

More detailed information can be found on the drivers for the project in the Broomfield Advisory Committee on Environmental Sustainability Presentation from August 2023.

  1. 1 Drivers for the Wastewater Expansion and Expected Growth Charts
  2. 2 Broomfield Water Map and Aerial Image of the Facility

Project Background

Broomfield’s Water Recovery (Wastewater Treatment) Facility, located at 2985 W. 124th Avenue, was originally constructed in 1954. To ensure continued compliance with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) regulations and the City and County of Broomfield’s wastewater treatment requirements, Broomfield retained Carollo Engineering in September 2022 to update the Wastewater Treatment Facility Master Plan, called the Utility Plan Update. 

Wastewater Utility Plans are planning tools that assist wastewater utilities in planning for wastewater collection system and treatment system changes. Utility Plans are critical in determining how wastewater service is and will be provided to urbanized portions of the region that have a permitted wastewater treatment facility. 

The primary objectives of the Utility Plan included: 

  • Define future regulations and develop a phased strategy for implementing solutions
  • Provide treatment capacity to accommodate population growth through 2050
  • Mitigate operational challenges related to the reliability and redundancy of existing assets
  • Maintain a high level of public standing through aesthetics and minimization of odors
  • Develop a cost-effective plan for implementation

When originally constructed in 1954, the treatment facility had a capacity of 0.8 million gallons per day (MGD). Over the years, the facility has been expanded five times and now can treat a hydraulic flow of 12 MGD and an organic loading of 23,018 lbs per day (one MGD is equivalent to approximately two Olympic-sized swimming pools).

Contact Us

City and County of Broomfield

Ronda Jo Ackerman Alford

CIP Construction Superintendent
ralford@broomfield.org

Dennis Rodriguez

Water Recovery Superintendent
drodriguez@broomfield.org