Council hears water and wastewater budget: North Tank online, lead/copper work and SCADA upgrades on the docket

Laramie utility staff told the City Council on May 13 that the newly completed North Tank pump station was activated and that a water master plan and other studies are planned to guide future large projects.

Director Webb (water utility) said the city applied for and received a full grant from the Wyoming Water Development Commission for a 10‑year water master plan and that staff turned the North Tank pump station on for the first time during the week of the work session.

Why it matters: staff described several multi‑million dollar potential projects and system‑wide needs — including lead and copper service line work, galvanized service lines that may need replacement, and aging supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems — that will shape capital planning and potential funding requests to state and federal partners.

Key utility items discussed: - Lead and galvanized service lines: staff reported completion of lead and copper service line inspections and surveys and said they had identified roughly 924 galvanized service lines that “may need replacement.” Director Webb said the city is coordinating with state consultants and the EPA on a potential Phase 2 program to determine which service lines truly require replacement and to pursue funding through the state intended use plan. - Notifications and outreach: Director Webb said residents on affected services will be notified using EPA‑developed notification language and that the city will publish a dedicated web page with information on affected service lines and next steps. - SCADA and monitoring systems: staff described the city’s SCADA system — the network of software and hardware that enables remote monitoring and control of pumps and treatment facilities — as “old” and unsupported and requested investment to replace or upgrade SCADA, including paging integrations used for operator alerts. Director Webb said the current system’s vendor is out of business and failures can disable automated paging and monitoring, forcing manual checks. - Treatment plant work and studies: staff said a study of the water treatment plant’s life and longevity is planned in conjunction with the master plan; the replacement cost of the water treatment plant was cited as potentially “on par of $70,000,000.” The city also requested modest supplementals for increased electricity for the new pump station, higher lab and chemical costs at the plant, and a clear‑well mixer replacement. - Wastewater highlights: wastewater staff reported completion of treatment plant upgrades that reduced energy use (staff noted a 20% energy reduction and an estimated $16,500 monthly energy savings at one point) and ongoing manhole replacement, CCTV inspections and preventive maintenance. Supplementals included incremental SCADA equipment and software upgrades and higher costs for return activated sludge meters.

Council and staff exchanges: councilors asked whether residents would be notified when their service lines were identified. Director Webb said the EPA is developing notification wording and that the city will publish a notification and web resources. Councilor Bolling asked whether replacements would prioritize sensitive sites such as schools; staff said prioritization criteria are still under development and that federal/state consultants are advising the city.

Budget requests and timing: staff said funding for large‑scale lead/galvanized replacements has been submitted through the state intended use plan and that many Wyoming communities are pursuing similar funding. The SCADA replacement was described as “long overdue,” and staff emphasized it is an operational necessity for remote monitoring and timely response.

Next steps: staff will continue coordination with the EPA and state consultants for Phase 2 of lead/copper implementation, complete the water master plan funded by the state grant, finalize the plant life study and return to council with any major capital requests and rate recommendations after the planned cost‑of‑service analyses.