San Juan Lateral Water Treatment: Filtration
A Regional Water Project Takes Shape
Out on the high desert near Farmington, one of the most significant water infrastructure projects in the Four Corners is steadily rising from the ground — and we’re proud to be building it. The San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant — a Project Update: San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant
A Regional Water Project Takes Shape
Out on the high desert near Farmington, one of the most significant water infrastructure projects in the Four Corners is steadily rising from the ground, and we’re proud to be building it. The San Juan Lateral Water Treatment Plant is a cornerstone of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and this summer it passed an important milestone. As of August 2026, our project is 36% complete on a cost basis and well into active construction.
When it comes online, our plant will treat water drawn from the San Juan River and deliver a clean, dependable supply to communities across the region. It’s a long-planned investment in the area’s water security, and one we’re honored to help deliver.
By the Numbers
The scale of the work we have underway is considerable:
- 36% complete (cost basis)
- 113,700 labor hours worked to date
- 140 construction workers on-site
- 4,400 cubic yards of concrete placed, about 450 truckloads
How the Plant Will Clean the Water
At the heart of our facility is its filtration system, the stage that polishes water to a safe, drinkable standard after the earlier treatment steps. Our plant relies on five dual-media filters, each built with 48 inches of granular activated carbon layered over 12 inches of sand. As water passes through, this combination removes the remaining suspended solids and helps reduce microbial pathogens. From there, the treated water flows into a clearwell and pump station before heading out to the distribution system.
Our design is built to be efficient, too. The filters are cleaned periodically through a process called backwashing, which reverses the flow to flush out trapped material. That used water is routed through an equalization basin and solids drying beds, and the settled water is recycled back to the head of the plant rather than wasted. At full Phase 1 capacity, our facility will be able to treat up to 19.1 million gallons of water per day.
Where Construction Stands
Work is progressing across every part of our site, with some structures nearing completion and others just getting started:
- Backwash Equalization Basin: 80%
- Recycle Pump Station: 75%
- Clearwell & Treated Water Pump Station: 35%
- Rapid Mix, Flocculation & Sedimentation: 35%
- Filtration: 35%
- Administrative Building: 35%
- Maintenance & Chemical Facility: 20%
- Air Chambers & GAC Filtration Facility: 5%
The Road Ahead
Our project has moved steadily since design work began in September 2024. Construction broke ground in April 2025, and the design reached 100% completion in February 2026. The next major milestone, reaching 50% construction, is expected in 2027. From there, the plant is scheduled to be operational by December 2028, and the full project is set to wrap up in December 2029.
