Albuquerque advances major sewer rehab and arsenic treatment projects amidst aging infrastructure challenges

Albuquerque advances major sewer rehab and arsenic treatment projects amidst aging infrastructure challengesThe utility's capital improvement update highlighted emergency responses to significant pipe failures and strategic investments to bolster summer water supply resilience.

A $32 million arsenic treatment facility at Volcano Cliffs is nearing completion to add 17 million gallons per day of supply.

The utility is executing a multi-phase rehabilitation of the Lift Station 20 force mains, estimated to cost between $30 million and $35 million total.

Emergency repairs are underway on a 54-inch interceptor collapse where concrete pipe walls had corroded significantly.

The FY2026 capital budget stands at $299.2 million, with $65 million currently encumbered.

The Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA) is balancing strategic supply expansion with urgent rehabilitation of aging wastewater conveyance systems, according to a capital improvement program (CIP) update presented at the board's February 4, 2026 meeting. David Laughlin, Division Manager for Centralized Engineering, detailed several priority projects, emphasizing the utility's response to critical infrastructure failures. The most significant wastewater undertaking is the rehabilitation of force mains connected to Lift Station 20, the largest lift station in the system. Laughlin noted that the station pumps approximately 20 million gallons of wastewater daily—representing the entire flow from the city's west side—across the river to the treatment plant. The project was expedited after the utility experienced two force main breaks on the line within an 18-month period. "It's expensive, but it's absolutely critical work because this is the only delivery point for wastewater from the west side to the east side," Laughlin said. Phase 1, currently underway with contractor TLC, involves replacing two existing force mains and adding a third on the west side of the river, at a cost of approximately $15 million. Phase 2 will address the piping on the east side, with an estimated cost of another $15 million to $20 million. Completion is targeted for the summer of 2026. The utility is also managing an active emergency involving a collapsed 54-inch concrete interceptor near Rio Bravo and Coors. Approximately 700 feet of pipe collapsed due to severe corrosion. Laughlin presented images showing the crown of the pipe, originally 3 to 4 inches thick, had worn down to between a quarter-inch and a half-inch. Bypass pumping has been in place for over a month while the utility finalizes easements and design alignments to replace the segment. On the water supply side, the authority is nearing completion of the Volcano Cliffs Arsenic Treatment Facility. The $32 million project is designed to treat and introduce 17 million gallons per day of additional groundwater supply. Laughlin described the facility as "critical" for meeting demand during the summer months when the utility relies heavily on groundwater. The project includes the installation of arsenic treatment vessels and interior process piping, with electrical work currently in progress. Additionally, the utility is expediting repairs to the West Mesa Reservoir after discovering leakage in a valve vault caused by failing joints in the reservoir's concrete floor panels. The rehabilitation is being accelerated to ensure the tank is back in service by late April, ahead of the high-demand season. The utility allocates between $5 million and $10 million annually for such reservoir rehabilitation, a targeted investment to extend critical asset life as water systems across the country grapple with aging infrastructure. Financially, the authority reported a strong position. Susan Lander presented the second-quarter financial report, noting that debt service coverage ratios remain well above policy minimums, with the senior lien coverage at 2.35. The total CIP budget for FY2026 is $299.2 million, which includes rollover funds. As of January 2026, the utility had encumbered $65 million and spent $32 million of that budget.