South Adams County Water and Sanitation District (SACWSD) has completed the Klein Enhancement Project, an $86 million investment that creates Colorado’s largest ion exchange treatment facility dedicated to removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from drinking water. A ribbon-cutting in Commerce City brought together funding partners and community leaders to mark the plant’s first day of operation.
According to the District, the project represents the largest infrastructure investment in its history. It expands the Klein Water Treatment Facility’s PFAS treatment capacity to 18 million gallons per day (MGD). The upgraded system draws from 13 production wells and serves approximately 75,000 customers. Brown and Caldwell served as the project designer, and PCL Construction delivered the work as construction manager and general contractor using a construction manager at risk (CMAR) delivery method.
The treatment process centers on full-scale ion exchange using PFAS-selective resin. The new facility is organized into two independent process trains. The north train comprises four duplex units designed to treat 10 MGD sourced from the District’s northern wellfields. The south train includes three triplex units designed to treat 8 MGD from central and southern wells.
To stabilize raw water flows prior to treatment, an equalization tank evens out fluctuations in well production. Following equalization, water passes through the ion exchange resin media and is then pumped to the existing Klein facility for blending, any further required treatment, and distribution to customers.
Brown and Caldwell’s design approach separates flows from wells with higher and lower PFAS concentrations to improve overall treatment performance. In addition, the project retains SACWSD’s existing granular activated carbon (GAC) systems for volatile organic compound (VOC) removal. Keeping GAC in service is expected to extend media life and reduce long-term operating costs for the District.
The Klein Enhancement Project was delivered over seven years, spanning pilot testing, detailed design, construction, and commissioning. The District reports that the work was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, and that service to customers was maintained without interruption throughout the project duration.
Project financing involved securing nearly $90 million in low-interest loans and grants. This included $61 million from the State Revolving Fund’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law PFAS program, support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Emerging Contaminants in Small Disadvantaged Communities program, and federal earmarks. Brown and Caldwell’s funding team led the effort to assemble the financing package.