In 1915 the City of Billings purchased its waterworks from Montana Water Company at a cost of $315,000. The original waterworks plant was built in 1886-87, and at that time, the City had a population of approximately one thousand.
Since then the City of Billings Water Treatment Facility (aka Gerald D. Underwood Water Treatment Plant) has continued to expand in an ongoing effort to keep up with the growth of Billings. The source of supply for the City's waterworks is the Yellowstone River. The nominal capacity of the water treatment plant is about 50 million gallons per day (MGD). Daily average usage is approximately 24 MGD, however at peak times during the summer months the plant will process at capacity-50MGD.
Water is pumped from the plant to eleven different zones within the City, and a 600-foot elevation differential exists between the highest and lowest portions of the City's water service area. The plant currently services approximately 115,000 people.

Current Expansion
In 2005 the City of Billings contracted with COP Construction LLC, a prominent, local, municipal general contractor to both renovate and expand the Underwood facility. This is a very technically challenging project in many respects, especially in light of the fact that this is a renovation/expansion around an ongoing operation. The completed project is estimated at $17 million and will take about two years to complete. When completed, the treatment plant's capacity will increase about 20% or to a capacity of 60MGD. This should serve the City's population well into the future.

The Pablo Dam-Stage II project encompassed completely draining the Pablo Reservoir, excavation, de-watering, removal and replacement of inlet and outlet works, material processing and zoned backfilling. The project's purpose was to improve dam safety and update irrigation and stock watering for irrigation members. This project is located near Pablo, Montana on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Reservation.

Crew size: 20-60 (including subcontractors)

Project Owner: The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes

Contract Administrator: Bureau of Reclamation

This project consists of a total road reconstruct, including new underground utilities and signalization. The project is located on 14th and 15th Streets between River Drive and 10th Avenue South. The 5.4 kilometer (3.4 mile) section includes new asphalt surfacing on approximately three-quarters of the project and concrete paving on the lower section. 15th Street will have a total water line replacement.   96" reinforced concrete pipe will be installed in 14th Street, requiring rerouting of existing utilities. The project is located in residential and commercial areas, and interaction wtih the public is very important as this road is a major artery through Great Falls.

This project has a current status website at www.15th-street.com

Crew size: 40 - 60 (includes subs)

Project owner: Montana Department of Transportation

This project consisted of construction of a new storm drain pipeline system. It included ten lateral pipelines, associated catch basins, drop structures, water quality structures, manholes and appurtenances associated with the storm drain trunk line. Also included were two precast bridges: one, 70 L.F. and one, 55 L.F. over the East Jordan and Salt Lake Canals.

Crew size: 40

Project owner: Sandy City Corporation

This job consists of 3 significantly different activities: the Intake Structure, Pump Station, and Intake Pipe System. The Intake is a poured-in-place concrete structure in the Yellowstone River that will be below water. The Intake is approximately 40 feet long and 12 feet high. The pipe from the Intake to the Pump Station consists of approximately 700 feet of 24" dictile iron pipe. The Pump Station is 3 stories high with 2 stories below ground. The Pump Station also includes 7 pumps and related intake piping and controls. Each pump is capable of pumping 2000 gallons per minute.

Crew size: 15

Project owner: City of Laurel

Crew size: 13

Project owner: Wyoming Department of Transportation

A City of Billings project to repair the concrete floor and subgrade foundation of a 6 million gallon underground water reservoir, as well as sanitizing and chlorinating tank.

Crew size: 12

Project owner: City of Billings, Public Utilities Department

The project consisted of constructing a 192-foot single span steel girder bridge over the West Fork at Big Sky, Montana.

Crew size: 4 employees

Project owners: The Big EZ Estates

The project consists of removing the floor of an existing intake structure built in the 1950s. This required building a coffer dam in the Yellowstone River, excavating below the existing floor, and pouring new walls and floor 4 feet lower than the old floor.

Crew size: 6

Project owners: PPL of Montana

The project consisted of excavation and grading for a 12" water line being placed in the center of existing roadway, as well as road widening, road base, granular borrow, asphalt, bridge extension, secondary irrigation, culinary water, storm drain, retaining walls, irrigation, curb and gutter, and sidewalks.

Crew size: 15

Project owners: South Jordan City, UT

The project consisted of construction of a scenic loop byway and turnouts, as well as construction of several kiosks used to post visitor information.

Crew size: 6

Project owners: USDA, Forest Service

This project installed 5,700 ft. of 16" water line; 7,068 ft. of 24" sanitary sewer line was installed at an average depth of 25'.

Crew size: 6

Project owners: City of Billings, Public Utilities Department

Crew size: 15

Project owner: City of Billings, Public Utilities Department

The District 3 - Bridge Deck Improvements Project is the bridge deck rehabilitation of nine structures. The structures are located in Cascade County on Interstate 15, including three sets over the Missouri River, the overpass at the Canyon Interchange, and the Hardy Creek Interchange.

The project consists of approximately 1,700 CY of latex modified concrete and 18,670 SY of bridge deck hydrodemolition. The project started in April, 2002 and will be completed in July of 2003.

Crew size: 23

Project owner: Montana Department of Transportation

Crew size: 7

Project owner: City of Logan