Strong infrastructure is essential to the health and growth of any community.
For the City of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, that meant looking beyond short-term fixes and investing in a wastewater treatment system built to serve residents for generations.
The city's original wastewater treatment plant was built in 1969 and had reached the limits of what it could handle. Two major flooding events - one in 2008 and another in 2018 - highlighted serious risks to the city's ability to safely manage wastewater. Each flood brought the message into sharper focus: the system was aging, over capacity and increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather.
Rather than continuing to repair outdated infrastructure, city leaders made a bold decision. They committed to a long-term solution that would improve reliability, protect public health and support future growth. The result is a $109 million, multi-phase investment to build a new wastewater treatment plant designed with resilience at its core.
The project is being constructed by C.D. Smith Construction with design by Town & Country Engineering, and delivers an entirely new treatment facility. Once the new facility is placed into service, the existing wastewater treatment plant will be demolished and the site converted into green space.
Aerial view of the new wastewater treatment facility under construction.
While residential wastewater remains an important part of the system, Reedsburg’s treatment plant also serves a large number of industrial users and septage haulers.
Septage is the waste pumped from septic tanks used by rural homes and businesses that are not connected to municipal sewer systems. The new facility was designed with a modern septage receiving station that allows haulers to unload efficiently and safely.
These upgraded facilities support surrounding rural communities while also creating an additional revenue stream for the city.
Because wastewater treatment facilities operate in harsh environments, durability was a key design priority.
Specially designed concrete was used in the most critical areas of the plant to help prevent leaks, corrosion, and long-term structural damage. Advanced waterproofing and antimicrobial technologies further protect the facility from constant moisture and bacteria, extending its service life and reducing future maintenance needs.
Approximately 1,850 cubic yards of specialty concrete are being placed throughout critical portions of the facility, including:
"Our highly skilled field team adapted seamlessly and executed flawlessly, producing a result that reflects the quality and craftsmanship C.D. Smith is known for."
Cody Berger
Project Engineer
C.D. Smith Construction
Special thanks to Xypex for highlighting this project and providing waterproofing and antimicrobial concrete technologies that support the facility's long-term performance.
Blower room inside the new wastewater treatment facility.
After approximately 18 months of construction, the project continues to make strong progress.
Approximately 17,000 of the planned 23,000 cubic yards of concrete have already been placed. Five of the facility's six buildings are now watertight, allowing crews to continue interior mechanical, electrical and process equipment installation.
Half of the large stand-alone treatment tanks have been completed, with the remaining structures scheduled for completion by mid-summer 2026.
The new wastewater treatment plant remains on track to begin operations in late spring 2027. Once operational, the original treatment facility will be demolished and the property restored as green space.
One of three 100-ton cranes supporting construction of the new wastewater treatment plant.
"City of Reedsburg is very satisfied working with C.D. Smith Construction. They have been very informative with scheduling, ordering materials and their quality of work has been outstanding."
Steve Zibell
City Engineer/Public Works Director
City of Reedsburg
Prefabrication of circular concrete formwork used during construction.
The new wastewater treatment plant represents a long-term investment in resilient infrastructure that will serve Reedsburg for decades to come.
Once operational, the new facility will improve reliability, support continued community growth and strengthen the city's ability to manage wastewater safely through changing environmental conditions. Following commissioning, the existing treatment plant will be demolished and the site converted into green space.
As construction continues toward late spring 2027 completion, the new wastewater treatment facility will position Reedsburg with resilient infrastructure designed to serve the community for decades to come.
The city's original wastewater treatment plant was built in 1969 and had reached the limits of its capacity. Major flooding events in 2008 and 2018 highlighted the need for a more resilient facility designed to better serve the community for decades to come.
The project represents a $109 million multi-phase investment in new wastewater treatment infrastructure for the City of Reedsburg.
The new facility incorporates specialized concrete, advanced waterproofing technologies and antimicrobial protection designed to improve durability, reduce maintenance and withstand harsh wastewater treatment environments.
In addition to serving City of Reedsburg residents, the wastewater treatment plant also supports industrial users and septage haulers serving surrounding rural communities.
The new wastewater treatment plant remains on track to begin operations in late spring 2027. Once operational, the existing treatment plant will be demolished and converted into green space.
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Date: April 2025 | Author: Tracy Lisowe
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