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Delivering sustainable, cost-saving results with progressive design-build

Idaho’s largest water reuse project — the Nampa Water Renewal Facility Tertiary Upgrade — brings sustainable water solutions and cost savings to the state’s third largest city
Nampa
Water

Collaborative delivery methods can drive transformative outcomes — especially when the stakes are as high as securing a more resilient water future. That’s exactly what happened in the City of Nampa, Idaho, where Jacobs served as the progressive design-builder for the $182 million Nampa Water Renewal Facility Tertiary Upgrade project. An essential component of the City of Nampa’s Recycled Water Program, the project represents the largest recycled water project and largest progressive design-build (PDB) project in the state. 

Nampa is the third largest city in Idaho with a population of 120,000 and one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S. The water renewal facility serves a diverse mix of residential, commercial and industrial customers. The upgrade will provide capacity for future economic and population growth through 2040 and addresses aging infrastructure.

738,699 

Hours worked on the project total

1 year 

Ahead of schedule 

$182M 

Wastewater treatment plant expansion

  • Jacobs and the design build team are experts in the field and provide high level engineering design, project management and construction management support. Their attention to detail, follow through and customer service is much appreciated.
    Jeff Barnes
    Director of Water Resources City of Nampa, Idaho

Jacobs was responsible for all aspects of PDB project delivery including design, permitting, construction and utility commissioning. Major project elements include expansion of the existing secondary treatment system, new tertiary filtration, disinfection, sidestream treatment and a new pump station and pipeline for recycled water conveyance.  

The recycled water pipeline is a key feature of the project. The pipeline delivers Class A recycled water, treated wastewater meeting the highest quality standards, to mitigate the high demand for agricultural and municipal irrigation water. During the irrigation season, the entire facility flow is reused.   

Using the PDB delivery approach allowed for a collaborative process that kept the plant operational, completed the project a year ahead of schedule and achieved more than $28 million in project savings.

$28M

In project savings due to fully collaborative progressive design-build delivery 

33

Construction months 

15%

of Nampa’s total irrigation demand provided by recycled water 

Thoughtful planning and collaboration lead to savings and big impact 

During design, Jacobs worked with the City and its advisor to develop an early work package for site clearing, demolition, excavation and early concrete and electrical activities. This reduced project costs by $8 million, followed by the implementation of multiple value engineering options during design that saved an additional $20 million. Adding a reuse pipeline to the project also reduced the overall program cost by $40 million. Reusing water for irrigation provides lower utility rates than alternative treatment options and improves community resilience to drought. 

Recycled water now provides approximately 15 percent of Nampa’s total irrigation demand and directly reduces the amount of surface water drawn from the Boise River.  

Collaboration during the design and construction process enabled the plant to remain operational during the construction process — and the project delivered far ahead of schedule. 

The team also overcame challenges posed by COVID-19. Through Jacobs’ effective leadership and diligent management of the schedule by all parties, the project was delivered on budget and ahead of schedule despite inflation at a 40-year high and nationwide supply-chain delays. 

This award-winning project has received the following recognition: 

  • 2025 WateReuse Pacific Northwest Award for Excellence for its Recycled Water Program 
  • 2024 Association of Idaho Cities – City Achievement Award for Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades Project, Group F 
  • 2023 American Public Works Association Rocky Mountain Chapter 2023 – Public Works Project of the Year (Project greater than $10 million) 

  • Nampa sign
  • Bullet Outfall
  • Nampa Filter Facility inside
  • Nampa Filter Facility inside

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