Water Infrastructure Engineering for Ski Resorts & Mountain Communities

Water Infrastructure

AQUA provides the full range of water engineering services for ski resort and mountain community systems, from initial source evaluation and master planning through detailed design of every facility type. Work spans simple pipeline replacements and fire flow improvements to complex multi-zone systems serving development across large elevation differentials.

Water systems in mountain resort settings require design approaches not typical of standard utility practice: extreme static pressure conditions, isolated source supplies with limited redundancy, highly variable seasonal demands, and strict drinking water regulatory requirements applied to non-standard infrastructure configurations. AQUA's design practice addresses these conditions as baseline requirements.

Capabilities Include:

Planning and Analysis

System master planning and long-range capital improvement programs
Water supply evaluation and source alternatives analysis
Demand analysis: residential, commercial, seasonal peak, and fire flow requirements
Hydraulic modeling: pressure zone performance, storage sizing, distribution system analysis, fire flow
Transient and surge modeling for high-head systems and long transmission pipelines
Drinking water source protection planning
GIS-based system mapping and asset management
Impact fee analysis and user rate studies

Source Development and Treatment

Spring collection system design, rehabilitation, and water quality improvement
Groundwater well development: source testing, yield evaluation, and state drinking water submittals
Surface water intake design
Treatment facility planning and design: filtration, disinfection, sodium hypochlorite generation, and membrane treatment
Source permitting coordination with state drinking water authorities

Storage

Water storage tank design: concrete, steel, and welded steel in all sizes
Open reservoir design: earthen embankment, lined, and combined storage and surge configurations
Valve vault and combined control building design
Level monitoring, telemetry, and controls integration

Pumping and Pressure Management

Pump station design in all configurations: horizontal split-case, vertical turbine, submersible, and packaged systems
High-head pump station design for extreme static pressure applications, including equipment sourced from industrial applications and adapted to potable water standards
Pressure reducing valve system design and pressure zone management

Pipelines and Distribution

Transmission pipeline design: ductile iron, welded steel, HDPE, PVC, and epoxy-coated steel
Distribution system design, replacement, and upsizing
Pipeline looping and redundancy improvements
Fire hydrant extension and fire flow improvement design
Corridor routing, plan and profile design, and utility coordination