If it feels like we’re always working on something, you’re right. We are. Our teams are continually upgrading equipment, planning ahead and making smart investments to ensure your utility services are reliable, efficient and safe.

Beginning in January 2026 and continuing through 2028, the City of Loveland’s Water Reclamation Facility will undergo a major, multi-year improvement project. These upgrades are designed to support future growth while maintaining strong, dependable operations every day.

Why now?

Even though the Water Reclamation Facility is fully compliant with current regulations, the job is getting more complex. Water conservation measures like low flow toilets and fixtures mean less water moves through the sewer system. While that’s a positive outcome overall, it results in wastewater more concentrated with organic waste material that places additional demands on existing treatment processes.

Add in aging infrastructure and upcoming state and federal regulations requiring even lower nitrogen and phosphorus levels in treated discharge to the Big Thompson River, and you can see why this project is essential. Proactive planning positions us to seamlessly execute future projects and adapt to increasingly stringent regulatory requirements. The upgrades will allow optimization of nutrient removal, reduce energy use, and create additional capacity to serve the community reliably for years to come.

What’s changing?

• We’re changing the existing Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) process, which uses microorganisms to remove nitrogen and phosphorus before treated wastewater returns to the Big Thompson River.
• We’ll add new BNR tanks to handle increased and more concentrated organic loading.
• We’ll install extra ultraviolet disinfection equipment to build redundancy before treated water discharges to the river.
• We’ll replace aging aeration blowers and rehabilitate concrete structures that have seen better days.

How we’re paying for it

The estimated cost is about $46 million, funded primarily through municipal bonds approved by City Council in 2025. Bonding lets us spread the cost over time instead of collecting it all upfront. That means current ratepayers aren’t left holding the entire bill on day one, and future users who will also benefit share costs through their rates. Strategic planning and bonding help keep rate changes steadier and more predictable.

What you’ll notice

Throughout much of 2026, crews will be building new structures, including a 225-foot-long concrete BNR tank. This will involve lots of digging, concrete placements and pipe laying. Most work will happen inside the property at the Wastewater Reclamation Facility, but you’ll also see adjacent activity along South Boise Avenue.

Always improving

Keeping pace with changing needs means continual investment. This continuous approach is how we deliver reliable service today, plan responsibly for the future and manage community resources wisely.