Most customers will never see the inside of a water storage tank. In fact, once the Trilby Tank Expansion is complete, much of this major infrastructure project will be covered, landscaped and quietly working behind the scenes.
But right now, the project is highly visible and tells an important story about how Fort Collins-Loveland Water District plans ahead.
The Trilby Tank Expansion will increase water storage at this site from 4 million gallons to 10 million gallons. That expanded storage will help support fire suppression, peak demand, system reliability and future growth across the District.
Here is a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build infrastructure designed to serve customers for generations.
1. A visible project that will eventually blend into the landscape
The Trilby Tank site is located near the new Larimer County Central Diversion and Transfer Station, west of Taft Hill Road on Trilby Road, between Loveland and Fort Collins. There is already a 4 million gallon tank at this location.
Right now, the new tank and large mounds of dirt are visible from the surrounding area. But this is temporary. Once construction is complete, the excavated dirt will be moved back over the tank so it blends into the landscape and looks more like a hill than a piece of water infrastructure.
The finished site will include a small access road, fencing for safety, vents and hatches that allow crews to access and maintain the tank. It is designed to be functional, secure and as low-impact as possible for the surrounding community.
Although the additional storage will not be fully needed for several years, FCLWD aligned the construction timeline with nearby county work to help minimize disruption and coordinate construction in the area more efficiently. It is one example of how regional partners can work together to plan ahead and reduce repeated impacts to the same area.
2. Building a roof designed to last
This photo shows the full tank from the outside, including the roof of the tank after the concrete pour.
The roof is built using post-tensioned concrete, which means steel cables are placed under tension after the concrete begins to harden. Think of it as a modern engineering approach that carries the same idea behind ancient domes: using compression and tension to create strength, stability and long-term durability.
A few project facts help put the scale in perspective:
The roof includes 2,922 post-tension cables. Combined, those cables could hold up more than 152 million pounds. That is roughly equal to 156 fully loaded 747 airplanes or 675 Statues of Liberty. It could also launch a standard laptop into orbit from sea level.
After the roof concrete was poured, crews waited for the concrete to begin curing, then began tensioning the cables. That process helps ensure the roof remains stable for generations to come.
3. Inside the tank: support columns and beams
One of the most remarkable parts of the project is what most people will never get to see: the inside of the tank.
Before the roof was poured, the structure included 52 concrete support columns and 1,400 support beams. In the photos, the red scaffolding-like pieces are part of the temporary support system used during construction, while the 52 concrete columns will remain.
At the time these photos were taken, crews were about halfway through removing the support beams through the tank hatches. That work was moving faster than expected, which is a positive sign for the overall project schedule.
Once the supports are removed, the open interior space of the tank becomes easier to see. Eventually, this space will hold 6 million gallons of treated water.
4. A 6-million-gallon space
This photo gives a better sense of the massive scale inside the new tank.
The new tank will hold 6 million gallons of water. Put another way, it would take 45,443,786 standard 16.9-ounce water bottles to fill it.
If that amount of water were purchased in bottles, it would cost roughly $5.4 million. By contrast, this tank can be filled in about half a day using the 24-inch water main already serving the site and the existing 4-million-gallon tank.
Before the tank can be placed into service, crews will finish removing the supports, sanitize the tank and begin filling it to test for leaks. That process is expected to begin in October 2026.
5. A major project takes many teams
Large infrastructure projects require careful coordination across many teams, contractors and specialties.
In this photo, you can see the removed supports stacked and ready to be picked up by the company they were rented from. It is a small glimpse into the logistics behind a project of this size.
The Trilby Tank Expansion involves approximately 18 months of construction. RESPEC is the overall design engineer. Ally Utility Consulting is supporting site civil work. Hensel Phelps is the prime contractor, with several subcontractors involved. VSL is completed the rebar and post-tension work. SCS Constructing Solutions is handling concrete forming and pouring. Loenbro is completing site electrical work.
6. On-site coordination and oversight d beams
One of the most remarkable parts of the project is what most people will never get to see: the inside of the tank.
Before the roof was poured, the structure included 52 concrete support columns and 1,400 support beams. In the photos, the red scaffolding-like pieces are part of the temporary support system used during construction, while the 52 concrete columns will remain.
At the time these photos were taken, crews were about halfway through removing the support beams through the tank hatches. That work was moving faster than expected, which is a positive sign for the overall project schedule.
Once the supports are removed, the open interior space of the tank becomes easier to see. Eventually, this space will hold 6 million gallons of treated water.
7. The 24-inch pipeline connection
This photo looks down into a hatch where the 24-inch water main connects toward the tank.
This pipeline is a critical part of the system. It serves the new 6-million-gallon tank and also connects to the existing 4-million-gallon tank at the site. Once the new tank is ready for testing, this pipeline will be able to fill the tank in about half a day.
Connections like this are one reason water storage projects are more than just large concrete structures. They must be integrated into the broader system so water can move where it is needed, when it is needed.
8. Planning ahead for future customers
This final image shows the roof slab plan for the tank.
It is a fitting place to end because projects like the Trilby Tank Expansion begin long before construction equipment arrives on-site. They require engineering, planning, coordination, permitting, construction oversight and long-term thinking. The tank is expected to be delivering water to customers by the end of 2026.
Once complete, most people will not see it. The site will be covered, landscaped and much less noticeable from the surrounding area. But the infrastructure underneath will play an important role in supporting future growth, peak demand, fire suppression and system reliability.
That is the purpose of capital planning: building what the system needs before customers need it, coordinating with regional partners when possible and investing in infrastructure that supports reliable water service for decades to come.
The bottom line
The Trilby Tank Expansion is a long-term investment in reliable water service. By adding 6 million gallons of storage, FCLWD is preparing for future demand while strengthening the system’s ability to support peak use, fire suppression and day-to-day reliability. Much of the project will eventually disappear beneath the landscape, but the infrastructure will continue serving customers for decades.
