Our Expertise > Gooding Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements
An Innovative Model for Rural Infrastructure Success
By the Numbers
- $15.85 million total project cost
- 40+ years average age of replaced infrastructure
- 0.54 MGD future-ready treatment capacity
- 5 critical equipment packages preselected to reduce schedule risk
- ~$78,000 returned to the City through cost savings
The Challenge
What happens when a city’s aging infrastructure can no longer meet environmental standards or support future growth? The City of Gooding faced this challenge as more than 70 percent of its wastewater treatment system was over 40 years old. Aging equipment and new phosphorus discharge limits made compliance increasingly difficult. And this created risks to water quality, service reliability, and the City’s budget.
The City also needed to modernize the facility while keeping it operational. Supply chain disruptions, long equipment lead times, and difficult subsurface conditions—including shallow basalt bedrock across the entire site, ranging from surface to 3-ft below the surface—added complexity to an already high‑stakes project.
The Solution
Partnering with Keller, the City launched its largest public works project to date—a $15.85 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade. Keller developed a comprehensive modernization plan centered on a sequencing batch reactor system with tertiary filtration and UV disinfection, incorporating phosphorus coagulation dose pacing to meet stringent regulatory limits.
To reduce schedule risk, Keller preselected five critical equipment packages and released them for early selection and manufacturing approval. Careful phasing and coordination kept the aging plant running throughout construction.
The Results
Completed on time and under budget in Fall 2024, the upgraded facility delivers 0.54 million gallons per day of future-ready capacity and returned approximately $78,000 in savings to the City. Today, the City has a fully upgraded facility that meets strict standards, improves dependability, and supports future growth. This milestone also shows how strategic teamwork can turn complex challenges into lasting community benefits.
Recognized with First Place in the 2026 ACEC of Idaho Engineering Excellence Awards and Third Place in the 2026 Idaho Business Review’s Top Projects.