Wednesday, April 1, 2026 |
Photo – Green River Wastewater Treatment Plant – Courtesy City of Green River
The Town of Green River has invited Rawlins officials to tour the wastewater treatment plant in western Wyoming.
During the March 17th Rawlins City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Darril Garner announced that Green River Public Works Director Mark Westenskow invited city staff to tour the town’s newly constructed wastewater treatment plant. Vice Mayor Garner said Green River received over $55 million in state funding to complete the facility.
In 2019, Green River officials began reviewing options to replace the town’s 60-year-old wastewater lagoon system. The governing body chose a $30 million activated sludge plant capable of handling 1.5 million gallons of wastewater per day.
By 2022, inflation had driven the price to more than $50 million. Green River applied for and received a $45.1 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan and an initial $7.5 million American Rescue Plan Act grant to address the rising costs.
Bodell Construction of Salt Lake City was awarded the contract to build the new facility for $51 million in April 2023. Supply chain issues and unexpected delays brough the final price to $55 million.
In 2024, Green River officials received another $6.5 million loan from the State Revolving Fund and a $10.5 million American Rescue Plan Act grant. After two and a half years of construction, the town’s new wastewater treatment plant was officially brought online this past January.
At the March 17th Rawlins City Council meeting, Vice Mayor Darril Garner said Rawlins is also undertaking major water infrastructure improvement projects, including $5.7 million of repairs to the city’s 32‑mile water transmission line. Like Green River, projects in Rawlins will be paid for through grants and loans. Vice Mayor Garner said he would like to know how Green River officials completed their project so quickly.
Vice Mayor Garner said Green River Public Works Director Mark Westenskow invited the governing body to visit the newly completed facility. While a virtual tour is available, the vice mayor said he would prefer to see it in person.
Vice Mayor Garner added that Riverton is also preparing to begin a major water infrastructure project, a $2.6 million upgrade of the city’s water treatment plant.
The Rawlins City Council agreed they would like to tour the Green River facility but did not set a date for the visit.
