Water & Wastewater: Building Reliable Systems for Growing Communities

Think about the last time you turned on a faucet, ran the dishwasher, or started a load of laundry. Clean water arrives when you need it, and used water disappears just as easily. Most people never think about the infrastructure that makes either possible.

Behind the scenes, an extensive network of pipes, pumps, and treatment facilities works around the clock to protect public health and support everyday life. Wastewater travels through underground systems to treatment facilities, where it is cleaned and returned safely to the environment. When gravity alone cannot move water, pumps keep it flowing, while operators monitor and maintain the system to ensure reliable service.

Keeping these systems functioning is a major responsibility, particularly as communities grow, infrastructure ages, and demands change. DCCM's water and wastewater team partners with communities to address today's needs while planning for future growth.

Recent projects in the Town of Wheatland, Town of Speedway, and NineStar Riley Village demonstrate how water and wastewater challenges can vary from one community to the next and how thoughtful infrastructure solutions help communities continue to grow and thrive.

Wheatland Wastewater Design: Finding the Right Fit

For a community of nearly 500 people, the Town of Wheatland needed sewer service that would fit within a limited budget.

Rather than defaulting to a traditional approach involving gravity sewer systems and lift stations, the team considered how deep excavation could affect the existing roads, sidewalks, and other infrastructure, ultimately selecting a low-pressure sewer system. This solution provided the needed service while keeping cost and construction impacts in mind.

Regarding project considerations, Aaron Crow, PE, Director of Water & Wastewater at DCCM IND, stated, "Cost-conscious design was the name of the game." This project for the Town of Wheatland was a solid example of why water and wastewater engineering is not always about choosing the biggest or most advanced system; rather, the focus should be on finding an approach that makes the most sense for the community's unique needs and delivering a solution that residents can use, operate, and maintain for years to come.

Speedway Wastewater Treatment Plant: Better Data, Better Decisions

The Town of Speedway faced a significant challenge during storm events. When it rained, water would find its way into sanitary sewer systems through aging pipes and other openings. The extra water had to be collected and treated, which put additional pressure on the existing system.

The project team had historical reports and operating data but needed insight into what was happening during storms. Their solution was to spend 3 to 6 months collecting samples during wet weather events.

The results showed that the actual conditions were worse than the historical information had suggested. Having better information allowed the team to design for the conditions the system was really experiencing rather than simply relying on old assumptions. This project also included additional capacity to account for increased inflow and infiltration and potential changes in rainfall intensity over time.

The team was able to design improvements based on real-world conditions, helping position the Town of Speedway's sanitary sewer systems for long-term reliability.

NineStar Riley Village Sanitary Sewer: Adapting to Change

A neighborhood in Riley Village faced a unique sanitary sewer challenge. Originally developed as a campground, the area's sewer system was installed beneath homes rather than within public streets.

As the area became a permanent residential neighborhood, infrastructure designed for a campground had to support the needs of a growing community. Before the sewer system could be relocated into the streets, the team identified existing underground infrastructure and determined how each home connected to the system.

The project extended sewer service and included the design of two lift stations to move wastewater reliably through the new system. By documenting existing conditions and developing infrastructure for future connections, the team created a solution that supports current residents while providing capacity for future development.

Infrastructure That Supports Growth

Although these projects faced different challenges, they demonstrate the same principle: effective engineering begins with understanding the community behind the infrastructure.

Most residents expect water to arrive when they turn on a faucet and wastewater to disappear when they run the dishwasher or start a load of laundry. That daily convenience depends on extensive infrastructure, along with the engineers and operators who plan, maintain, and improve it.

Operator input is an important part of that work. Operators understand which equipment is difficult to maintain, where system issues recur, and how facilities perform under real operating conditions. Ricardo Paredes, Project Manager at DCCM IND, summarizes this approach simply: "It is always understanding the operator." By incorporating operator knowledge into planning and design, the team can develop improvements that respond to operational needs and support long-term system performance.

A community-focused approach is evident across each of these projects. In the Town of Wheatland, the team developed a cost-conscious wastewater solution that met the town's needs. In the Town of Speedway, the team used system data to identify an approach that addressed regulatory requirements while reducing project costs. In Riley Village, modern sewer infrastructure replaced a system designed for a different era while supporting future development. Together, these projects demonstrate how thoughtful water and wastewater solutions help communities address today's challenges, plan for tomorrow's needs, and create a foundation for long-term growth.

Explore our website to learn more about DCCM's water and wastewater services and connect with our team to see how we can help deliver reliable infrastructure solutions that support your community's needs today and future growth tomorrow.