Just like a well-used car or a long-loved home, water infrastructure ages—and eventually, it needs some care.
At Fort Collins-Loveland Water District (FCLWD), many pipes and systems that keep clean water flowing to homes and businesses daily were installed in the 1960s and ‘70s. While much of that infrastructure has served us well, it’s now reaching the end of its service life. That’s why we’re proactively investing in upgrades and replacements to ensure safe, reliable service for the next 60 years—and beyond. In this blog post, we’re sharing more about why maintaining older infrastructure matters and the latest updates on the current capital improvement projects.
Tl;DR Summary
- Proactively maintaining and upgrading aging infrastructure is key to ensuring reliability, especially during peak demand and emergencies.
- New technology, like wet taps and updated pipe materials, allows for more efficient and safer upgrades.
- Several major capital projects are currently underway or recently wrapped, including the Zone 5 Crossing, Trilby Tank Expansion, Airport Pump Station, Longview Pump Station and Western Backbone Phase 3.
- FCLWD continues prioritizing keeping disruptions as minimal as possible and maintaining transparency through community outreach and collaboration with local partners.
Behind the Scenes: The Challenges of Aging Infrastructure
Water pipes don’t typically make headlines—until something breaks. However, maintaining infrastructure before it fails is critical. Not only that, but older materials like asbestos concrete (AC) pipe, which was once common, are no longer used. Today, we rely on more durable and safer alternatives like PVC, ductile iron and steel. And thanks to improved technologies, we can better assess what’s underground without the need for disruptive digging. Additionally, our risk assessment team evaluates which sections of infrastructure need repair, rehabilitation or full replacement based on age, material and history of main breaks.
Proactive updates not only prevent unexpected failures but also support system reliability. We had the chance to connect with FCLWD professional engineer Linsey Chalfant to ask her about why these updates are so important. Linsey shared,
“To increase the reliability of our system, it’s very critical to have redundant infrastructure. With redundancies, even if we have to shut down an area for construction, a line break or any other reason, we don’t have to take large service areas offline. That’s why we can’t wait until our infrastructure breaks to do something about it. Every element of our infrastructure improves our ability to provide reliable water service.”
One of the game changers in modern infrastructure work is the process of installing “wet taps.” This method allows crews to connect new pipelines to existing ones without shutting down the water supply. These connections can be made even on larger pipes, 48 inches and above in diameter, bringing flexibility and efficiency that simply wasn’t possible a few decades ago.
Technology also helps us adapt to evolving regulations, such as new standards around PFAS (also known as “forever chemicals”). While we continue to monitor and test to ensure water safety, we’re confident that our materials and systems support high-quality drinking water that meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements.
Capital Project Highlights: What’s Happening Now
FCLWD’s proactive approach is already in action across several capital projects this year. Here’s a look at a few you may have noticed:
Status: Complete
This high-impact project was recently completed in March, right on schedule. Crews put in long hours to get the job done, working closely with the City of Fort Collins to align timelines and avoid repeat disruptions. The City has been in the process of repaving Harmony Road, beginning at Timberline Road and heading west.
Although other phases of the Zone 5 project are still under design and subject to change, we wanted to work ahead of the City’s repaving project so that we don’t have to tear out a freshly paved road a year or so from now. This type of collaboration is typical of municipalities and utility providers, and you can read more about it in our past blog about sharing utility corridors.
Status: On Track
This vital project, located near the Larimer County landfill, is moving full steam ahead and is projected to be completed in December 2026. The 30-inch feeder line has been completed, and excavation is underway for the new water storage tank, which will sit just across the street from the existing 4 million gallon tank. This expansion helps meet growing demand and supports long-term system reliability.
Water services are not expected to be interrupted during construction. If an interruption is necessary, residents will be notified via door hanger 24 hours in advance. During the project, commuters on Trilby Road or Taft Hill may encounter minor roadway restrictions. Please follow all crew instructions and allow additional time for commuting.
Status: Just Beginning, On Track
The new Longview Pump Station, serving the Longview Subdivision, will replace an older, below-ground facility with a modern, above-grade design that’s easier to access and maintain. It’s being built at the same time as the Airport Pump Station (see more below) to maximize the cost-efficiency of the crews. Construction began in April and is expected to continue until April 2026.
Planned water outages will be necessary for this project, but we will complete these major tie-ins outside of regular business hours to minimize disruption. We will notify all affected businesses in advance of any scheduled outages.
Status: On Track
Originally constructed in 1982, the Airport Pump Station is the oldest in operation within the District and has never undergone any modifications or upgrades. Having exceeded its 20-year design life, the facility requires replacement rather than renovation, as extensive updates would be needed to meet current building standards.
The new pump station is being constructed on the same property, allowing the existing station to remain in service throughout the project to ensure uninterrupted water delivery. The replacement will include a 1,300-square-foot building equipped with new pumps, updated pump controls and a full backup generator. Construction began in February 2025 and is expected to take approximately 12 months to complete.
Status: On Track
This major pipeline project is underway in a residential area near Overland Trail and Pleasant Valley Road. Crews recently hit a significant milestone with the Overland Trail and Pleasant Valley portions of the project. The pipe is in the ground, the road is paved and these roads have been reopened to traffic. We’re moving along Virginia Dale Drive, Wildwood Road, Lake Street and Cedarwood Drive. If everything goes according to plan, Phase 3 will be complete in October 2025.
Working in this neighborhood comes with unique challenges. Shallow groundwater in this part of town requires extra care during excavation. We use a special “treatment train” system to pump, filter and safely return groundwater to the storm sewer system.
Because this project greatly impacts this neighborhood, we’ve been very proactive about communication and transparency. Linsey shared,
“I feel very good about the efforts that we’ve made to connect with the community. We hosted a well-attended ice cream social last fall and a ‘cocoa and conversation’ event earlier this year when we had a trailer on site answering questions and getting the community involved. We had one of our large fittings on display, and neighborhood members got to paint and write on it. This fitting is being installed with the project, leaving the community’s mark on this important infrastructure upgrade. Kids loved it, and it was a great way to engage with the community.”
Looking Ahead
Our approach to repair and replacement is simple: care for what we have, plan for what’s next and always keep our community informed. Whether upgrading decades-old pipes or bringing a new storage tank online, our goal is to make every improvement count—for safety, reliability and the future of our region’s water supply.
Visit our website for continued updates—and thank you for trusting FCLWD to keep the water flowing.
