This summer, a major construction project is underway just beyond the Mortimore Lane turn-off near Sinks Canyon. The city of Lander is replacing three failing drinking water storage tanks with a single, modern four-million-gallon tank. This upgrade will enhance the city’s total water storage capacity by an additional one million gallons. The project also includes the replacement of an emergency pumping station near the hospital.
HDR Inc is the engineer and construction manager for the water tank project and High Country Construction from Lander was the successful bidder and contractor. In late May, the concrete floor for the new tank was poured and the contractor cast over 30 wall panels and 80 roof panels. Work is ongoing for the roof hatch, manway wall panels, overflow pipe, and access hole.
To support this construction, the contractor set up half of the temporary support scaffolding, with a crane company handling the rest. An 800-ton crane arrived in late June, and after a thorough safety inspection, it was used to set up the remaining temporary support scaffolding and tank panels over six continuous days before being disassembled and removed from the site.
The water tank is expected to be completed by October 1 and the pump station is set for completion by November 1. The overall project is anticipated to wrap up by spring 2025.
The project is primarily funded by grants, including $7.02 million from Wyoming Water Development and $3.55 million from Abandoned Mine Land Reclamation Funds. The city of Lander will cover a small portion, approximately $130,000, through water and sewer user fees.
This initiative is part of the Lander Water Master Plan, established in 2022, which outlines our goals for water supply, system expansion, regionalization, reliable service, and fiscal responsibility.