WATER

Council has been considering the replacement for the Semper Water Treatment plant for years, but work to replace the facility started in 2015, culminating in the city’s Water 2025 project plan. e project identi ed the best location as a vacant lot along Westminster Boulevard.

Concerns over water a ordability stopped the project on Nov. 29, 2021. Over the past year, the plant’s capacity, locations and other supporting infrastructure have all been reevaluated. at resulted in a call for less water treatment capacity at the new plant, from 60 million gallons of demand per day to 44 million. e location remained on Westminster Boulevard.

Much of that lower demand is due to conservation measures for commercial and residential zones, said Bleiker.

“20 years ago people were taking that initiative, and it didn’t add up to very much. Over time, it added more and more,” she said.

e campus will open opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning. Healthcare students might work with manufacturing students to mimic how industries often intersect with each other. Electricians would take their math courses through the lens of the electrical program.

Last year, the Board of Education approved $10 million from the general fund for the project. Another $10 million came from Certi cates of Participation from a 2018 mill levy override.

“ is really is a community-based investment that will bene t all of us by helping our students to develop rewarding, high-paying careers,” said Superintendent Pam Swanson. Ryan McCoy, executive director of postsecondary workforce readiness, compared the project to an aspen tree, connecting the facility to educators, nonpro ts, industries, government leaders and workers. “ e campus is part of a greater rethink of how education is delivered,” he said.

e reduction is happening in many Front Range cities, not just Westminster. Because of that, city sta recommended not moving forward with Water 2025.

Processes

Right now, Semper doesn’t have the ability to do ozonation, to handle solids easily, to do deep bed ltration or mechanical occulation – a water treatment process where solids form larger clusters that are easier to lter out – or to treat emerging contaminants, such as so-called forever chemicals or PFAs.

e new treatment plant would be able to do these things. Treating emerging contaminants comes down to having the space that will be provided with the new plant, she said.

Bleiker mentioned some contaminants are known today, but more will come in the future that are not known. She said it’s the decision of the EPA and CDPHE to decide what’s regulated, and it’s not optional for the city to comply.

“We want enough space for when some reg comes out and says ‘it’s time to treat for this contaminant,’ we have a place to put it without looking for new land to put it on,” she said.