Broomfield Utility Operations Infrastructure

What is Utility Water Infrastructure? This term refers to all the systems used to move, store, treat, distribute, or dispose of water. Broomfield's Utility Operations Infrastructure is $3.428 billion in assets and growing. Broomfield Utility Operations Infrastructure serves four main functions:

  • Supplying clean water for public use 
  • Treating wastewater to protect public health
  • Enhancing water supply through non-potable reuse irrigation
  • Collecting and conveying stormwater away from homes and businesses

Broomfield’s continued growth and the added emphasis on higher-density development means Broomfield’s utility infrastructure assets will need to accommodate a larger increase in usage, impacting the operations and maintenance costs associated with these critical assets.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the Federal government’s share of capital investment has fallen from 63% in 1977 to less than 5% in 2023. The burden of clean water compliance and infrastructure investment is almost entirely with the local government and community they serve. Broomfield, like many of our neighboring communities, urgently needs to renew investment in our community’s utility infrastructure. 

Infrastructure Assets by the Numbers

Water System - $1.379 Billion

This does not include Glasser Reservoir, Siena Reservoir, or Broomfield’s share of Chimney Hollow Reservoir

  • One Water Treatment Facility: 24 million gallons per day
  • Five Booster/Pump Stations
  • Four Water Tanks: nine million gallons - west of Main St. and six million gallons east of Main St.
  • 483 miles of underground water distribution pipe
  • 4,478 Hydrants
  • 14,965 Valves
  • 23,077 Meters

Wastewater System - $1.236 Billion

  • One Wastewater Treatment Facility
  • 13 Lift Stations
  • 326 miles of underground sewer collection pipe
  • 8,408 sewer manholes 

Non-potable Reuse System - $146.321 Million

  • Storage Reservoir: Great Western
  • Two Treatment Systems: Wastewater and Great Western Reservoir
  • Two Storage Tanks: 3.75 million gallons 
  • 40 miles of underground reuse distribution pipe
  • 483 Valves
  • 20 Pressure-reducing Valves

Stormwater System - $667 Million

Does not include ponds or detention basins

  • 15 miles of Surface drainage conveyances
  • 174 miles of Underground stormwater collection pipe
  • 2,732 Stormwater manholes
  • 3,553 Stormwater inlets
  • 114 Retention basins
  • 52 Water Quality and Stormwater Ponds

Upcoming Major Utility Operations Infrastructure Projects: 2024 - 2034

Annual Asset Replacement Investment

  • Water line replacement: $24.6 million
  • Sewer collection piping lining and upgrades to existing sewer lift stations: $22 million
  • Water meter replacement: $11.4 million
  • pH control redundancy: $790,000
  • Algae analysis system: $141,000
  • Airport water tank maintenance: $162,000
  • Water Distribution System Pressure Monitoring and Controls: $980,000  

Water System

  • Water Tanks: $93 million, partially buried
  • Water Treatment Plant Expansion: $70.2 million - design scheduled for 2028; completion needed by 2031
  • Broomfield Reservoir: $137 million - design scheduled for 2027; completion needed by 2034
  • Highway 7 Waterline: $4.3 million
  • Sheridan Waterline 36in: $19.2 million
  • Heit Pit: $7.7 million
  • Airport Booster Station: $4.5 million
  • Interlocken Booster Station: $4.6 million
  • Baseline Water System Reimbursement: $10,113,246

Wastewater System

  • Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion: $526 million - a 13-year project with $206 million allocated to new and/or more restrictive regulatory requirements
  • Lift Station: $8 million - compliance required demo and replace both the Sunridge and Outlook lift stations 
  • Collection System Master Plan: $800,000

Stormwater

  • Stormwater Master Plan and Pond: $850,000
  • Water Quality Pond Evaluation: $250, 000 - bathymetric assessments to map and monitor sediment accumulation and implement preventative solutions 
  • Pond algae control systems: $190,000 per pond 
  • Pond Dredging: Annual $950,000 - costs range from $50 to $300 per cubic foot of material removed depending on location and land restorage costs

Non-potable Reclaimed/Reuse Water

  • Water Tank: $22.2 million
  • Great Western Reservoir Dam: $19.6 million
  • Great Western Raw Water Pump Station: $6 million