Board Projects

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Current and Upcoming Projects


The Board of Public Utilities' carries out numerous small to large projects throughout the year. The projects are critical for providing quality water for Cheyenne's residents, as well as ensuring that the water and wastewater infrastructure are maintained. Learn more about current and upcoming projects below.

Current ProjectS List
Project Name & Cost Description Status
Hydroelectric Generation Facility

~$7.5 million (Design & Construction)
Project consists of design and construction of an 850-kW hydroelectric turbine generator and a building to house the generator at the Sherard Water Treatment Plant. This project will utilize existing raw water pressure to generate electricity to save on electrical costs and prolong service during power outages. Project is funded by a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Green Project loan with a $750,000 principal forgiveness. Construction with an estimated completion date of May 1, 2023.
Sherard Sodium Hypochlorite Conversion

~$212,000 (Design Only)
Project includes the research and design of a sodium hypochlorite disinfection system at the Sherard Water Treatment Plant to replace chlorine gas currently in use. The new water disinfection system improves safety and reliability due to bulk storage of salt compared to chlorine gas. Under design.
North City Improvements

~$12 million (Design & Construction)
Project includes design and construction of a water storage tank and associated pipeline along Storey/Western Hills Blvd to expand water service to northeast Cheyenne and allow for future growth in the City. The project is 67% funded through Wyoming Water Development Commission at no cost to ratepayers. Under design. Construction is expected to start in late 2022.
Capitol Basin 26th St Interceptor Storm Sewer Extension

~$700,000 (Design & Construction)
To protect the new Capitol Square and improve storm water drainage in the area, the City and State pooled funds to extend storm sewer piping to 26th Street and Capitol Ave. As an opportunity to save ratepayer funding, BOPU decided to join the team and replace aging water and sewer infrastructure in the area. The water main was enlarged to improve redundancy and firefighting ability in the area. Under Construction with an estimated completion date in 2022.
Southwest Dr Waterline Project

~$500,000 (Design & Construction)
Project consists of replacing aging and compromised water infrastructure beneath the intersection of Southwest Dr. & West Lincolnway. Water main will be horizontally drilled under the railroad tracks to alleviate impacts to rail and automobile traffic. This new waterline will provide a secondary feed to a critical industrial area of Cheyenne. Under design. Construction is expected to start in 2022.
FY 2021 Water Project

~$2.8 million (Design & Construction)
Project consists of rehabilitating old water pipe and installing new water pipe in targeted locations to improve service. A new water main will be bored beneath I25 north of Vandehei Ave. Existing water mains will be connected by new pipes in Cherokee St, Harvard Ln, Cornell Ln and the intersection of Vandehei Ave, Gardenia Dr, and Yellowstone Rd. Water mains in 3 other locations along Yellowstone Rd between Storey Blvd and Dell Range Blvd will also receive new water pipe. These improvements will provide much needed interconnections within the water distribution system to increase system redundancies. Under Construction with an estimated completion date in 2022.
FY2023 Sewer Rehabilitation Project

~$2,5 million (Design & Construction)
This is a multi-component project involving digging and replacing various segments of sewer main that need to be realigned, installing a cured in place pipe liner or pipe bursting in new pipe in various segments of sewer main that are prone to root intrusion causing back-ups, replacing manholes that are deteriorated which cause buildup in the system, and installing diversion manholes in areas of town to direct sewer flow into different mains to maximize the systems potential conveyance. Beginning design. Anticipated construction in Summer 2023.
Sun Valley Pressure Zone Expansion Project

~$780,000 (Design & Construction)
This project consists of the installation of two new pressure reducing valves in specific locations and installing isolation valves in various locations to adjust the Sun Valley Pressure Zone to the west to incorporate a portion of Cheyenne bounded by Parsley Blvd, I80, and Union Pacific railroad. Adjusting the pressure zone will reduce system pressures in the affected area to more manageable pressures resulting in fewer water main breaks. Beginning design. Anticipated construction in Summer 2023.
Unified Wellfield Hydrogeologic Model

~$600,000 (Study Only)
A helicopter will fly over BOPU wellfields to collect geological data. The geological data will be used to create a map and 3-dimensional model of aquifers and underground water flow paths. The maps and model will be used to better manage existing wellfields and locate potential new well sites. BOPU hopes/anticipates the gained knowledge will lead to better well siting and save rate payers millions of dollars. Study has begun with an estimated completion date in 2023.
Sherard Filter Backwash Pump Replacement

~$155,000
Project consists of rehabilitating a backwash pump at the Sherard Water Treatment Plant to restore lost pumping capacity and increase the operating life of the water treatment plant. Bids will be received in fall of 2022 and construction is expected to start at the end of 2022 or beginning of 2023.
Sherard Generator Dual Fuel Conversion

~$92,500
Project consists of retrofitting the Sherard Water Treatment Plant’s existing diesel backup power generator to utilize a mixture of diesel and natural gas. This conversion will prolong service during power outages (like the cyclone bomb). Contract has been awarded and retrofitting is expected start in fall of 2022.
Floc 2 Rehab

~$650,000 (Construction Only)
Project consists of replacing the mixing equipment in and the epoxy lining on a flocculation basin in the Sherard Water Treatment Plant. This rehabilitation will extend the operating life of the basin and the water treatment plant. Project will be released for bids in summer of 2022.
SCADA Rehabs

~$264,000
Project consists of replacing aging and compromised equipment that communicates and controls BOPU infrastructure, such as valves and pumps, in remote locations. This equipment will allow BOPU to continue operating remote equipment from a central location which will save rate payer dollars. Replacement is expected to be complete by 2025.
Well Field Pump Upgrades

~$100,000
Project consists of increasing the pumping capacity of various BOPU wells to pump water directly to the Sherard Water Treatment Plant. Treated surface water must be blended with ground water to meet current water quality requirements. This project will increase the amount of ground water available to blend with treated surface water. Construction is expected to start in summer of 2023.
Crystal Bypass Pipeline

~$3 million (Design and Construction)
A new raw water transmission pipeline will be installed around Crystal Reservoir. Currently, Crystal acts somewhat as a bottleneck for surface water to get to the treatment plant. This project will provide a redundant path for water to reach town if Crystal is ever unavailable due to contamination or dam repair. This project is 67% funded through Wyoming Water Development Commission at no cost to ratepayers. Design is expected to begin in 2023.
Water Reclamation Hydraulic Capacity

~$3.1 million
A new outfall pipeline at the Crow Creek facility and new storage ponds at Dry Creek Facility will allow BOPU to treat more water reliably during heavy rainstorms. These improvements increase the capacity of the plants and extend their useful life. BOPU is currently exploring the possibility to use federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds for this project to reduce the financial burden from ratepayers. Design is expected to start in 2023.