Groundbreaking Marks Major Milestone for Town of Palisade Sewer Transfer Project
July 20, 2026

Construction is officially underway on the Town of Palisade’s Sewer Transfer Project, a major investment that will modernize the community’s wastewater system, improve long-term reliability, and support future growth.

J-U-B has partnered with the Town since 2020 to evaluate solutions for its aging wastewater treatment plant. Following a comprehensive preliminary engineering report and an environmental assessment prepared by J-U-B, the Town selected a regional wastewater approach as the preferred alternative.

The project will retire Palisade’s existing wastewater treatment lagoons and convey wastewater approximately five miles to the Clifton Sanitation District’s collection system through a combination of gravity sewer, lift station, and force main pipeline infrastructure. This regional solution provides a more sustainable and efficient long-term approach to wastewater treatment.

J-U-B began design in 2023. Design was completed in the fall of 2025, and after an extended bidding and contracting process, construction officially began in summer 2026.

To efficiently deliver the project, construction has been divided into three contracts:

• Pipeline construction – Landmark EPC
• Lift station construction – Native Sun Construction
• Lagoon abandonment – Mountain Valley Contracting

On June 23, 2026, the Town of Palisade celebrated the project’s groundbreaking with a ceremony at the existing wastewater lagoons. Organized by Town Manager Janet Hawkinson, the event brought together Town leadership, Clifton Sanitation District representatives, J-U-B, contractors, and agency partners to recognize the years of planning and collaboration that made the project possible.

The celebration concluded with a lighthearted tribute to the project’s purpose. Participants gathered for a playful “21-gun salute” using novelty toilet-plunger toy shotguns. Rolls of toilet paper were thrown into the air, streaming over the lagoons, creating a memorable moment that reflected the community spirit behind the effort.

Once complete, the Sewer Transfer Project will provide Palisade with a modern regional wastewater solution that enhances system reliability, improves operational efficiency, and supports the community’s needs for decades to come.