The Town of Silt, Colorado, recently completed significant improvements and an expansion of its existing water treatment plant (WTP). Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, developed the WTP master plan, and led engineering and design services to improve the facility’s treatment and operational performance. Dewberry also partnered with Silt to navigate complex funding and regulatory requirements.
Silt’s previous WTP capacity of 0.6 million gallons per day (MGD) could not meet peak summer demands, and peak day water needs are projected to reach 1.3 MGD within the next 20 years. The newly completed upgrades provide redundancy, resilience, and increased treatment capacity.
Recognizing the financial impact of major infrastructure investments on a small community, the town pursued a comprehensive funding strategy. The project team consisting of Silt, Dewberry, and Garney Companies Inc. as a construction manager at risk (CMAR), along with loan/grant agencies, including the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority, worked together to coordinate the completion of loan applications and agreements. The project was financed through a Drinking Water Revolving Fund (DWRF) loan with principal forgiveness, supplemented by multiple grants.
“Our team is proud to have been part of designing and supporting the expansion and upgrades to the Town of Silt’s water treatment facility,” says Dewberry Senior Associate and Senior Project Manager Sam Franzen, PE. “The improvements to water quality and the WTP facility will benefit the surrounding community, supporting future growth for many years to come.”