Earlier this week, the City of Westminster took a significant step toward building a modern drinking water facility by approving several construction agreements, and is set to break ground for the facility later this month. The City successfully reduced the cost of its new drinking water facility by nearly $100 million following a multi-year review led by City Council.
The Westminster Boulevard Drinking Water Facility, originally estimated to cost $304 million under the Water2025 plan, will now move forward with a total budget of $206 million. The project was right-sized down to meet the needs of a Westminster community that has embraced water conservation practices and significantly reduced its water consumption since 2000. The new 14.7-million-gallon-per-day facility is designed to provide clean, safe, and affordable drinking water for generations to come.
“This is a major win for Westminster residents,” Public Works and Utilities Director Paul Knippel said. “By taking a hard look at the original scope, partnering with experts, and finding efficiencies, we’ve been able to right-size the project to our community’s needs while saving nearly $100 million.”
The project includes a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract with PCL Construction at $189.5 million, and $11.1 million in construction management services with CDM Smith, Inc. An additional $5 million contingency is held by the City to account for unforeseen circumstances, keeping the total cost within $206 million.
The facility includes ozonation treatment, an advanced feature that City Council directed City staff to include, which is highly effective at killing bacteria, viruses, and mitigating potential impacts from upstream wildfires in the Clear Creek Watershed.
“This is about more than just cost savings—it’s about delivering resilient infrastructure that will serve Westminster residents for decades to come,” said City Engineer John Burke, whose team led the value engineering process.
What’s Happening Now: Community Engagement Opportunities
Construction of the Westminster Boulevard Drinking Water Facility is anticipated to begin in fall 2025 and continue through 2028.
Residents are invited to two upcoming events to learn more and celebrate this milestone:
Preconstruction Open House
Thursday, September 18
6 to 8 pm
Mandalay Middle School (9651 Pierce Street)
- View the final design of the new drinking water facility
- Learn about the construction timeline and associated projects
- Ask questions directly to the project team
- Family-friendly gathering, with refreshments provided
Community Groundbreaking Celebration
Wednesday, September 24
5 to 6:30 pm
9988 Westminster Boulevard, east side between 98th and 104th Avenues
- Food trucks and refreshments
- Fun educational activities for all ages
- A close-up look at construction equipment
- Ceremonial groundbreaking with City Council and community leaders
- Prize drawings, including waterwise plants, water bill credits, and a $200 Garden In A Box gift card
Both events are free and open to the public. Residents can RSVP, view project renderings, and learn more at the project webpage.