Jordan Valley Water Treatment Plant Filter and Chemical Feed Upgrades

The Jordan Valley Water Treatment Plant (JVWTP) faced a critical challenge: population growth, climate pressures, and aging infrastructure were pushing the facility’s limits. Originally designed to treat 180 million gallons per day (mgd), the plant needed to deliver more water, reliably, safely, and efficiently, without disrupting service to the communities that depend on it.

To address this, the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District launched the $110 million Filter and Chemical Upgrade Project, with Carollo leading the design and implementation. The upgrade expands the plant’s capacity to 268 mgd gross, strengthening one of Utah’s most important drinking water sources for decades to come.

Because shutting down the plant was not an option, Carollo employed a phased construction strategy that kept water flowing even during periods of high demand. Using Building Information Modeling (BIM), the team coordinated construction in tight spaces and maintained all filters during summer peaks, while keeping half online during spring and fall. The project also piloted high-rate filtration technologies and tested new filter media, laying the groundwork for regulatory approvals and better long-term performance.

Upgrades included replacing filter media in 16 filters to boost efficiency, building a new 8,000-pound-per-day chlorine gas facility with modernized chemical feed systems to support a net 255 mgd capacity, repurposing existing buildings and upgrading pipe galleries to reduce costs, and installing advanced electrical and instrumentation systems to streamline operations and lower maintenance needs.

When completed in 2028, the upgraded facility will enhance one of the region’s largest conventional treatment plants, providing reliable, efficient, and sustainable water service to a growing, climate-conscious population.