Salt Lake City—Two Utah construction firms that specialize in water and wastewater infrastructure projects – Ralph L. Wadsworth Construction Company, LLC (RLW) and VanCon, Inc. (VanCon) – have been hired by Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities (SLCDPU) to build an influent pump station (IPS) and two 48-inch force mains (pressurized pipelines). The construction is part of a larger effort to replace the City’s aging water reclamation facility (WRF).

RLW was selected to construct the new influent pump station (IPS)adjacent to the existing IPS located approximately 1 mile south of the New WRF. The current IPS will be decommissioned once the new one is commissioned. Wastewater flows to the IPS from throughout the City via four large sewer trunk lines. Able to receive around 48 million gallons of wastewater per day, the new IPS will be more efficient, resilient, and reliable.

As wastewater is directed through the New IPS, large pieces of debris are removed, and the water is then pumped through two new 48-inch diameter force mains to the New WRF for treatment. VanCon will be installing these new pressurized pipelines.

“People don’t really think about all the infrastructure that is in place to collect and treat the water used by people, businesses, and industry,” said SLCDPU Director Laura Briefer. “These critical services are essential in our daily lives. They keep our City running, our communities safe and healthy, and our economy productive. These two construction projects will help ensure that we can continue to provide these services by repairing and replacing aging infrastructure and upgrading our facilities and processes to meet federal and state regulatory obligations.”

Construction work on the new IPS and force mains will begin in October 2023 and will continue through the Spring of 2026.

RLW, which employs nearly 600 people and with offices in Utah and Colorado, is known for building large and complex projects for both the public and private sectors. RLW recently worked as a subcontractor on the reconstruction of the Salt Lake City International Airport, was the general contractor on a new Timpanogos Cave Visitors Center and was the general contractor on the Soaring Canyon Bridge.

With more than 220 employees, VanCon is located in Springville, Utah, and specializes in water and wastewater infrastructure and pipeline projects. VanCon recently constructed SLCDPU’s 4th Avenue well house, the Gunlock water treatment facility, and rehabilitated the Cecret Dam.

The new IPS and force mains are part of the extensive, multi-year, $800+ million effort to build a New Water Reclamation Facility to serve SLCDPU customers.

Jacobs, AECOM, and Sundt/PCL Joint Venture have been working on the New WRF since 2019. AECOM has provided engineering design services for the New WRF, including the new IPS and force mains projects. Jacobs provides overall program management services to deliver the New WRF as well as the IPS and force mains. Sundt/PCL Joint Venture provides construction management and general contractor services to construct the New WRF.

Visit makeitpureslc.org for more information.