NEW WATER TREATMENT PLANT
CONSTRUCTION PROJECT
The City of Lynden has an ongoing commitment to
providing safe, reliable and high quality drinking water to
our customers, now and in the future. To that end, the
design of Lynden’s new Water Treatment Plant by Stantec
Consulting Corporation which began in November 2010
progressed to final design plans being submitted to the
City in late 2012. City staff worked diligently to obtain
funding for this very large, but vitally important project.
Offsite Utilities and Preliminary Frontage Improvements
(Phase 1) designed by Reichhardt and Ebe Engineering
involving removal of peat soils, and installing utilities and a
road base is currently under construction by Stremler
Gravel. As the funding agreements are finalized the City
expects to solicit construction bids for the plant February
2013 and to begin construction by summer 2013.
Plaque on Existing Water Treatment Plant First
Constructed in 1924
Project Purpose
The new plant will replace an aged and outdated 1924 plant
with a modern conventional treatment plant that will comply with
existing and new regulatory requirements. It will have the
capacity to serve quality drinking water for Lynden and its
service area for many years to come.
2010 Photo of South Side of the Existing
Water Treatment Plant
The City of Lynden draws water from the Nooksack River. This
raw water is pumped to the City’s existing Water Treatment
Plant (WTP). Although the WTP has been modified over the
years in attempts to meet treatment and production
requirements, it has serious code and structural related defects
and cannot meet peak day water demands, forcing the City to
rely on storage. Extended peak demand would exhaust the
storage capacity and the City would be unable to supply water,
resulting in a service disruption that would affect all homes and
businesses within service area. A July 22, 2011 letter from the
State Department of Health stated ….“it is now imperative
that the City obtain the funding and complete the new water
treatment plant as soon as possible. The ongoing reliability
of your water supply and health of your community depend
on this project.”
Schematic of the Treatment Process
Project Description
The New WTP will be located just south of the old plant on property acquired by the City for this
purpose in 2008. It will initially treat as much as 8 million gallons per day, and has been designed for
expansion to 12 million gallons per day. The new 19,000 square foot structure will house heavy
treatment equipment, filters, pumps and pipes, and the staff that will operate the plant. The new facility
will meet the Federal Long Term Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rules and the State Disinfectant
and Disinfection Byproducts Rule and will provide safe and reliable water for the City’s long term growth
needs.
Project Costs, Funding and Rates
This construction project comes at an advantageous time for the City with low interest rates and record
low construction costs. By the time the entire project is complete, including design, permitting,
construction, construction management, plant start-up, and utilities/roadway frontage improvements the
total cost could be $35M. The City has been successful in securing long term low interest funding and
grants. These include several 20-year, ½% and 1% interest loans from the Washington State Drinking
Water State Revolving Fund and Public Works Trust Fund. Also, recognizing the importance of
water infrastructure to regional economic vitality, Whatcom County has awarded the City a local
Economic Development Investment loan and grant. Without these, there would have been greater
rate increases.
Instead, the City is projecting connection fee and water rate increases of about 7% per year until it
reaches the capital debt service requirements of this major construction project. This is lower than
earlier forecasts due to City efforts.
Construction Schedule
November 2012
Award Construction of WTP Offsite Utilities and Frontage Improvements
January/February 2013
Advertise for WTP Construction Bids
April/May 2013
Award Construction Contract for WTP
June 2013
Construction of WTP Begins
Summer 2015
Construction Completed and New Plant Operating!
The next page shows what the new Water Treatment Plant is expected
to look like when completed . . .
West Elevation of New Lynden Water Treatment Plant
South Elevation of New "Lynden Water Works" Treatment Plant