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OCN > 2604 > El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, March 3 and 19 – Board awards and amends contracts

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, March 3 and 19 – Board awards and amends contracts

Highlights

  • The Loop board moved from preliminary to final design for the Advance Water Treatment Plant, awarding a detailed design contract to JVA, Inc. at the March regular meeting after a prior special meeting review.
  • non-disclosure agreements were approved for four contractors (JVA, CDM Smith, Brierley Associates LLC, and Pinyon Environmental Inc.) and authorized for use with future partners as project work continues.
  • CDM Smith contract amendments were approved to add detail for embankment, spillway, and outlet works design, clarifying required design drawings under the contract.
  • Western States Land Services LLC received a cost order change of $66,000 to cover the expanded easement work for 66 titles along the 52-mile pipeline from Fountain Creek to participating districts.
  • Financial updates showed February invoices totaling $298,000 were authorized for payment, and the Loop's cash reserves stood at just over $600,000, with Q3 2025 reimbursements from the El Paso County Board of Commissioners processed.

By James Howald

The El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board met twice in March. At a special meeting on March 3, the board discussed a contract to advance the design of the project’s Advance Water Treatment Plant (AWTP) to its final version.

At its regular meeting on March 19, the board approved the design contract for the AWTP and approved non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to be used with four existing and any future contractors. It also amended its contract with CDM Smith and put in place a cost order change to its contract with Western States Land Services LLC. Corbin Fromm, of Fromm and Co., the Loop’s accounting firm, submitted a brief financial report.

AWTP final design contract

The preliminary design for the AWTP, done by Burns & McDonnell, specified a treatment protocol that includes sedimentation, ultrafiltration using membranes, granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and alkalinity adjustment and chlorination. At its special meeting, the board awarded a contract for a more detailed design, based on Burns & McDonnell’s work, to JVA, Inc., pending legal review of the contract. Earlier, JVA did the water quality testing on which Burns & McDonnell based its design.

At its regular meeting, the board voted unanimously to award the contract to JVA.

NDAs approved

Loop attorney Nicole Peyov told the board she had prepared NDAs for use with JVA, CDM Smith, Brierley Associates LLC and Pinyon Environmental Inc. The board authorized Rebecca Hutchinson, the Loop’s interim workflow manager, to send the NDAs to the four contractors mentioned above and to any new contractors that join the project.

Contracts amended

The board voted to amend its contract with CDM Smith, the company working to expand the Callahan Reservoir, adding detail to the embankment, spillway, and outlet works design. The amendments also detail the design drawings that will be required to meet the terms of the contract.

Western States Land Services is acquiring the easements needed for the 52 miles of pipeline that will convey the Loop’s water from Fountain Creek to customers in the participating districts. Western States originally estimated 12 easements would be needed, but increased that number to 66, requiring more title work. The board approved a cost order change of $66,000 to cover the increased scope of work.

Financial report

Fromm told the board invoices totaling $298,000 had been received in February. The board authorized payment.

Fromm said the Loop had received reimbursement for its Q3 2025 expenses from the El Paso Board of County Commissioners, which is responsible for disbursing a total of $4 million in American Recovery Plan Act funds to the Loop. Fromm said he had submitted the expenses for Q4 2025. Fromm said the Loop’s cash reserves were just over $600,000.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 16 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

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