California Construction News staff writer
Construction has begun on a $206-million water treatment plant in Placer County, with locally based W.M. Lyles Co. leading the work under a $170.5-million construction contract.
Also, nine California–based companies, including eight based in the region, are expected to
participate in the first three weeks of site work a
The plant is being built in western Placer County near Ophir Road. The total project cost is estimated at $206 million, with construction scheduled to continue through 2030.
Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) broke ground on the Ophir Water Treatment Plant on Oct. 15. The facility is expected to begin operating in 2030, initially adding capacity to treat 10 million gallons of drinking water per day for Lincoln, Loomis, Rocklin and unincorporated communities in western Placer County.
Nine California-based companies, including eight based in the region, are expected to participate in the first three weeks of site work, PCWA said.
The plant is intended to meet projected demand while improving water supply reliability for existing customers. It will operate alongside PCWA’s Foothill Water Treatment Plant in Newcastle and Sunset Water Treatment Plant in Rocklin, providing additional flexibility during maintenance and unexpected disruptions.
“Projects like Ophir don’t happen overnight,” said PCWA General Manager Andy Fecko. “They take decades of planning, investment, and people committed to making decisions and carrying them through.
“Today, all that work is coming together as we break ground on a facility that will serve this region for generations.”
The plant is master planned for expansion to 30 million gallons per day. Underground pipelines are designed to accommodate flows of up to 60 million gallons per day if future regional needs require additional capacity.
The project follows years of investment in water infrastructure, including the American River Pump Station, Ophir Road Pump Station, Ophir Road Pipelines and Foothill Raw Water Pipeline. Those facilities were developed to improve water delivery and prepare the system for the new treatment plant.
The project also builds on a funding agreement between PCWA and the City of Lincoln reached in 2023. Under the agreement, Lincoln invested upfront in future treatment capacity, helping reduce the agency’s borrowing requirements while planning for growth.
“Lincoln is investing in water infrastructure for today’s residents and for the community Lincoln will become over the coming decades,” said Lincoln Mayor Richard Pearl. “Partnering with PCWA helps both agencies plan ahead for the water supply and infrastructure their residents and businesses will need, while strengthening water reliability across the region.”
