WIFIA key to launching Utah drinking water project
January 23, 2025


AWWA Articles
WIFIA key to launching Utah drinking water project
Construction is underway on one of the largest investments in water infrastructure improvement in the history of Ogden City, Utah, thanks in part to a $42.6 million loan from the federal Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA).
The project includes replacing the city’s aging Wellfield Water Line that delivers groundwater through Ogden Canyon to the water treatment plant, and the Canyon Water Line that transmits treated drinking water from the treatment plant to the distribution system. Portions of the existing 6.4 miles of 36-inch transmission pipeline date back to the 1930s.
Ogden City Corporation’s Wellfield and Ogden Canyon Water Line Replacement Project is also being funded with $34.3 million from a Utah Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, $12 million from the U.S. American Rescue Plan Act, and $10 million from state appropriations and other grants.

The project will increase the drinking water system’s efficiency and resiliency while reducing water loss from the water lines by a projected 2 million gallons per day. This will enable the city to release more water into the Ogden River and other surrounding waters that feed the drought-stressed Great Salt Lake and support local ecosystems.
“This new infrastructure is critical to ensuring Ogden City can meet its growing water demands,” said Justin Anderson, the city’s public services executive director. “Without it, the city would struggle to maintain adequate water supply. Replacing aging infrastructure that was prone to leaks and failures significantly reduces risks of service disruptions.”
The low-cost WIFIA loan, which was approved in 2024, will save Ogden City about $5 million. As a whole, the multi-phased project is expected to create an estimated 1,200 jobs and be completed in 2029.
Master planning key to obtaining funding
Ogden City’s process for obtaining a WIFIA loan began in 2011 – three years before WIFIA existed — with completion of a Water Utility Master Plan. The plan, which was updated in 2018, laid the groundwork for identifying critical infrastructure needs.
This led to developing a preliminary infrastructure and condition assessment report on the Ogden Canyon water line to analyze its age, material type, location, capacity, and functionality. The report included cost estimates and project phasing.
“Ogden City initiated the WIFIA application by submitting a Letter of Intent, which outlined the total project cost, the requested loan amount and other sources of funding identified for the project,” Anderson said.
He provided the suggestions below to water utilities considering applying for a WIFIA loan or other federal assistance:
- Start early. Begin planning and gathering necessary documentation well in advance, as the application process can take a year or more to complete.
- Demonstrate need. Clearly identify the project’s criticality and the impacts of delaying it.
- Leverage master planning. A comprehensive master plan helps ensure that prerequisite projects are completed before starting large-scale initiatives. For Ogden City, prior projects were essential to making this replacement project feasible.
- Engage experts. Work with consultants experienced with the WIFIA process and financial advisors like bond counsel to navigate complex requirements.
- Establish other funding sources. WIFIA covers up to 50% of project costs, so it is necessary to identify additional funding sources such as utility revenues or state loan programs.
- Document environmental impacts. A thorough documentation of impacts and benefits to the environment are needed to meet federal requirements.
The American Water Works Association helped craft and champion the WIFIA program, which was signed into law in 2014 as a means to accelerate investment in U.S. water infrastructure. The program is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Ogden City’s water division is responsible for more than 395 miles of water mains, 7 reservoirs, 8 wells and pressure regulation systems, and more than 26,000 water meters.
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