Construction is Under Way

Major construction of the Southern Delivery System water pipeline project has started. This regional water project will deliver water to Colorado Springs, Pueblo West, Fountain, Security and provide these communities with a long-term, stable water supply for the next several decades.

Photographed from Pueblo Dam, construction crews pour concrete for the connection for the Southern Delivery System water pipeline. Important Safety Flyer

Phase 1 of SDS will include the connection to Pueblo Dam, three pump stations, about 60 miles of underground pipe and a water treatment plant.

Construction of SDS is the culmination of more than a decade of planning, studies, public discussion and regulatory review that found SDS to be the most cost-effective, environmentally responsible and dependable solution.

The SDS construction team is committed to working closely with neighbors to keep them informed about construction activities and to work to minimize disruptions. A new hotline is available for residents with SDS construction-related questions: (855) SDS-4YOU (737-4968) The hotline is staffed 24/7.

Contractor Workshop Feb. 16

Local subcontractors are invited to a workshop on Thursday, Feb. 16 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Colorado Springs Utilities Leon Young Service Center (1521 S. Hancock Expressway, Colorado Springs) to learn about upcoming opportunities related to the construction of the Southern Delivery System water treatment plant.

McCarthy Building Companies Inc., in partnership with Carollo Engineers, is the design-build team for the SDS water treatment plant. At the workshop, representatives will provide a project update and overview along with the current time line for construction bid opportunities. McCarthy is committed to finding qualified local subcontractor's to participate in the construction execution of this project. The design-build team will explain the project's qualification requirements and procedures for submission of prequalification information as well as show early design plans. Representatives will be on hand and available to answer questions.

More than 100 Colorado businesses are currently involved with the construction of SDS. A variety of subcontractors are needed to support the project. The SDS Water Treatment Plant, with an estimated construction cost of more than $100 million, is the largest, most complex component of the regional water project.

For information, visit www.mccarthy-sdswatertreatmentplantproject.com or call toll free 855-737-4967.

Water Treatment Plant Contracting Opportunities

Architectural Concept of SDS Water Treatment Plan

More than $100 million in upcoming SDS contracting opportunities for area contractors:
Regional contractors will have the opportunity to competitively bid for work on the Southern Delivery System (SDS) Water Treatment Plant — the largest and most complex component of the regional project.

More than $100 million in construction work is anticipated to complete the new water treatment plant, located in southeast Colorado Springs (east of Marksheffel Road and south of Highway 24). The design-build team of McCarthy Building Companies Inc. and Carollo Engineering will divide the facility's plans into various construction bid packages as the team finalizes its design. read more...

Volunteers Plant Wetland on Fountain Creek

Volunteers plant trees, shrubs and wetland plants on a quarter-acre property along Fountain Creek on Sept. 24.

Fountain Creek got a little bit greener thanks to 65 volunteers from southern Colorado who planted more than 4,500 plants, shrubs and trees to establish a new wetland Sept. 24.

The new wetland, located on Clear Spring Ranch south of the city of Fountain, is part of a comprehensive mitigation plan for the Southern Delivery System (SDS) project developed by Colorado Springs Utilities to address SDS construction impacts. Once established, the wetland will help restore and stabilize the banks of Fountain Creek – providing additional habitat for wildlife and improving water quality by reducing erosion along the stream bed. read more...

SDS Celebrates Construction

Attendees sign the ceremonial piece of pipe during the Aug. 19 SDS Construction Celebration.

Southern Colorado officials and community leaders gathered at the base of Pueblo Dam on Aug. 19, 2011, to celebrate the beginning of major construction on the historic Southern Delivery System (SDS), one of the largest water supply projects under way in the western United States.

"This is one of the largest water projects to be built in Colorado in decades," said Jerry Forte, Colorado Springs Utilities' chief executive officer. "SDS is an investment in our community – one that will repay large dividends. Water is vital for our residents, and for businesses and new industries to prosper."

SDS Construction Videos

SDS crews are making significant progress on the initial project construction. Below are links to video clips of recent construction activities:
To date, crews have poured more than 1800 cubic yards of concrete to form the foundation for the SDS connection at Pueblo Dam: View video

Recently, crews began the trench excavation for a section of raw-water pipeline in southern El Paso County: View video

More than a pipeline. A lifeline.

Water is essential for life, but we don’t live near a source. Previous generations built a state-of-the-art system to bring us clean, reliable water from the mountains. The Southern Delivery System is the next critical component needed to sustain our community. It’s our generation’s turn to invest in the future.

Learn more about why we need SDS for the long-term health of our community.