Reno advances sewer lift station upgrade and purified water pipeline

Reno advances sewer lift station upgrade and purified water pipelineThe Reno City Council has approved a design agreement to expand the Buck Lift Station to handle growing development and winter inflow, alongside securing key easements to convey water for the regional Advanced Purified Water Facility.

The council approved a design agreement with Loomis and Associates for the Buck Lift Station, which is reaching capacity due to new development and winter inflow and infiltration.

The lift station upgrade is slated to go to bid in May or June of 2027, with construction targeted for fiscal year 2028.

An easement at Echo Court was approved to transition a buried pipeline from the public right-of-way to airport property for the Advanced Purified Water Facility (APWF).

The city also secured a $1.5 million grant for the Booth Street Siphon project.

The City of Reno, Nevada, is pushing forward with essential upgrades to its water and wastewater networks, approving design work for a strained sewer lift station and finalizing easements for a major water purification pipeline. During a July 22 meeting, the Reno City Council approved a design agreement with Loomis and Associates for the Buck Lift Station upgrade. Associate Civil Engineer Eric Miller noted that the facility—one of 29 sewer lift stations owned and operated by the city—is running out of capacity. The upsizing is necessary to accommodate incoming development and mitigate winter inflow and infiltration (I&I) issues. Miller outlined that the preliminary analysis and design phase will take several months to complete field work and engineering. The city is targeting a construction bid release in May or June of 2027, with construction anticipated in fiscal year 2028. Miller confirmed the station pumps flows toward the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) and will not directly impact flow shaving at the Reno-Stead Water Reclamation Facility. In a separate action, the council approved the purchase of a water pipeline easement across two properties at Echo Court. Senior Civil Engineer Nick Brothers explained that the permanent easement is a critical component of the Advanced Purified Water Facility (APWF) project, transitioning the buried pipeline from the public right-of-way to airport property. The infrastructure will convey treated water to the advanced purification plant at American Flat. Brothers clarified to the council that the APWF project will not draw water from Swan Lake, but will instead divert water directly from the treatment plant. Additionally, during the consent calendar review, the council highlighted the recent acquisition of a $1.5 million grant for the Booth Street Siphon project, a funding mechanism that officials noted will help offset capital impacts to the city's general fund.