CB South Metro District hoping to start plant expansion by fall

State helping with low interest loan

[  By Mark Reaman  ]

The Crested Butte South Metro District is expecting to begin construction on a major facility expansion later this year. The plant’s multi-million-dollar expansion has been in the works for close to three years and would hopefully start by late this summer or early fall.

The basics of the project are that the expansion would allow for treatment of 300,000 gallons of wastewater per day, up from the current 125,000-gallon daily capacity. The estimated $5.244 million project is being funded primarily through a State Revolving Fund loan that is offering a $4 million, 20-year note at 2.25%. The district will make up the $1.2 million difference with reserves that were created from tap fees and budget surpluses compiled over the last few years. 

District manager Ronnie Benson said the Metro District had an increase in service fees of $10.08 (water/sewer combined) per EQR, or 2,000 square feet of residential space per month for 2022. The district is considering a metering program for the future.

“The last rate increase before that was in 2017,” he noted. “Historically our rate increases only cover the rise in our operational costs and nothing for reserves. Five percent of this most recent increase will shift into a reserve fund that we will only fund capital improvements with.”

Expansion could be done in late 2023

Benson said the wastewater expansion plan would begin once all state and county permits are finalized. “We have hired Stanek Constructors out of Golden as our CMAR (Construction Manager At Risk) contractor. Design is at about the 90% completion phase. The ultimate hope is that supply chain issues won’t delay the project which is expected to be completed about a year after starting if no major glitches arise,” he explained. 

Once completed, it would serve build-out expected in CB South.

Looking to the future, Benson said once the wastewater facility is completed, the focus would turn to water treatment. “We will be in need of other points of diversion to produce our water right,” he said. “But it’s definitely being planned for. Our biggest obstacle for that is real estate.”