The City of Westminster has made significant progress in its plans to build a modern drinking water facility, approving several construction agreements and set to break ground later this month. Through a multi-year review led by the City Council, the project’s cost has been reduced by nearly $100 million.
The Westminster Boulevard Drinking Water Facility, initially estimated to cost $304 million under the Water2025 plan, will now proceed with a budget of $206 million. This adjustment reflects the community’s commitment to water conservation, as consumption has decreased significantly since 2000.
The new facility is designed to provide 14.7 million gallons of clean and safe drinking water daily. “This is a major win for Westminster residents,” said Public Works and Utilities Director Paul Knippel. He noted that by reassessing the project scope and implementing efficiencies, the city was able to align the facility with current community needs while also achieving substantial cost savings.
The project includes a Guaranteed Maximum Price contract with PCL Construction for $189.5 million, along with $11.1 million for construction management services from CDM Smith Inc. The city has also set aside an additional $5 million for contingencies, keeping the total cost at $206 million. Features such as ozonation treatment have been included to enhance water safety by effectively mitigating bacteria and viruses, especially in light of potential wildfire impacts.
City Engineer John Burke emphasized that this project is about more than just saving costs; it focuses on building resilient infrastructure for the long term.
Construction of the Westminster Boulevard Drinking Water Facility is scheduled to begin in fall 2025 and continue through 2028.