Boulder utilities report $96.7M in bonds, major sewer and treatment upgrades under way

Boulder’s Water Resources Advisory Board heard a year-in-review presentation Jan. 27, 2025, from utilities staff that summarized 2024 operations, capital spending and 2025 priorities, including $96.7 million in water and wastewater bonds and major upgrades at the city’s wastewater treatment facility.

The presentation, led by Andrew Walker, budget analyst for the utilities department, and other utilities staff, outlined how most of the recent bond proceeds will fund the main sewer interceptor project and seven other priority projects, including upgrades at two water treatment facilities and work at the city’s wastewater facility (referred to in presentations as the Wharf). Staff said use of American Rescue Plan Act funds for bill-assistance programs ended in 2024 and that the department will focus in 2025 on developing an in-house, sustainable customer assistance program.

Why it matters: Utilities staff said the bond proceeds and ongoing capital work target aging infrastructure that directly affects water quality, wastewater discharge compliance and flood resilience. Staff also flagged regulatory and operational timelines — notably a 2025 startup window for new phosphorus removal systems at the wastewater facility — that will affect near-term project schedules and budgets.

Staff and finance highlights

Utilities staff reported the city issued $96,700,000 in water and wastewater bonds in January, with the majority directed to the main sewer interceptor project and the rest to seven priority projects, including treatment plant upgrades. The department also completed a cloud-based upgrade of its utility billing software in November 2024; staff said the modernization includes a new customer portal and payment processing changes intended to speed the move to paperless billing.

Operations and maintenance

Staff described generally average source-water conditions in 2024, with seasonal snowmelt and reservoir storage near historic averages until a warm, dry late spring and summer increased demand. Summer daily water demand was slightly above the five-year average but aligned with historic patterns, staff said.

Operations metrics cited in the presentation included: more than 300 after-hours responses by the water maintenance team; repair or replacement of roughly 600 meters in 2024 and about 357,000 manual meter reads; wastewater inspections of about 70 miles of pipe and cleaning of roughly 146 miles of sewer lines; and stormwater cleaning/inspection work that included more than 16 miles of pipe and work on storm inlets and manholes. Staff also said the stormwater team completed a drainage and rain-garden project at 15th and Walnut.

Major capital projects

• Barker Gravity Pipeline rehabilitation: staff reported liner and pipe repairs across roughly 7,000 feet of pipe and described the overall project as about 75% complete. The approach used lining techniques to limit open-cut work.

• Water treatment plant upgrades: a multi-year upgrade at a major water treatment plant reached substantial completion in 2024, with final closeout work expected in summer 2025.

• Wastewater (Wharf) phosphorus upgrades: staff said the Wharf is being modernized to meet upcoming phosphorus limits in the next permit cycle; construction began in 2023 and was about 70% complete at the end of 2024, with projected commissioning in July 2025.

• Main sewer intercept project: staff said the existing concrete sewer near Boulder Creek carries an estimated 80% of the city’s wastewater to the Wharf and has areas of severe erosion; planned relocation and Phase 2 work aim to reduce catastrophic-flood risk, with Phase 2 underway and projected to finish this year.

Flood mitigation, wildfire resilience and other 2025 priorities

Staff described progress on multiyear flood-protection projects (South Boulder Creek, Upper Goose Creek / Two-Mile Canyon and Gregory Canyon Creek), noting permitting and design steps completed in 2024 and anticipated ground‑breaking and design work in 2025. Utilities staff also described wildfire fuel‑reduction and emergency rehabilitation planning for infrastructure near reservoirs and the Boulder Canyon hydro facility, and said the department will assess the century‑old high‑pressure penstock that conveys water to the Boulder Canyon hydro facility and recommend rehabilitation or replacement.

Regulatory items

Staff updated the board on two regulatory issues. First, fluoride: staff said a 1969 ballot measure requires the city to add fluoride to drinking water at the CDC‑recommended level; changes would require a new ballot measure absent state or federal regulatory changes. Second, wastewater nutrient limits: staff said the Wharf already meets current nitrogen limits and is advancing phosphorus upgrades because the next permit renewal is expected to include stricter phosphorus limits (referred to in the presentation as “Regulation 85”).

Board questions and next steps

Board members asked about wildfire vulnerabilities for high‑elevation reservoirs and buried infrastructure; staff described pre‑ and post‑fire preparedness work by the water‑quality team and cross‑departmental planning with fire and parks staff. The board also asked about staffing, the transition to the new billing system and customer support; staff reported increased call volume as customers transitioned and said work is ongoing to streamline assistance and communications.

Votes at a glance

• Approval of November meeting minutes — motion to approve was made and seconded; chair called for the vote and the minutes were approved (no named mover/second recorded in the transcript).

Bottom line: Utilities staff framed 2024 as a year of both steady operations and heavy capital activity, with 2025 focused on completing major upgrades (including phosphorus removal), advancing flood‑protection projects and completing assessments of aging high‑pressure conveyance systems.