New Water Treatment Plant Designed for Chickasha’s Long-Term Future
The City of Chickasha, Oklahoma, held a groundbreaking for a new water treatment plant, a major milestone for the community that will strengthen their water system and support long-term growth.
The new facility will replace the existing plant that served Chickasha for decades. City leaders, project partners and community members gathered to celebrate the start of construction on the new facility, reflecting the City’s commitment to investing in reliable infrastructure that supports residents today and in the future.
The new plant is designed to produce 6 million gallons of water per day, with the ability to expand to 8 million gallons as demand grows. It will use a multi-step treatment process, including rapid mixing, clumping and settling of particles, and filtration to deliver high-quality drinking water. Freese and Nichols partnered with the City of Chickasha to provide planning, design and bidding services. The team performed environmental reviews, evaluated water supply options and assessed the condition of the existing plant, delivering the technical insight needed to inform the City’s decisions.
The facility will also include a treated water storage tank divided into two chambers, a transmission pump station, a filter and administration building and residuals handling facilities. Together, these improvements will give the City greater flexibility to manage operations, perform maintenance and respond to changing system needs.
Building a Reliable Water Future
The City evaluated multiple options to meet future water demands, including improvements to the existing plant. Based on those findings, City leaders chose to construct a new facility to provide greater reliability and long-term value. Additional analysis confirmed that the City’s existing water supply from Fort Cobb Reservoir will continue to meet demand.
Freese and Nichols partnered with the City of Chickasha to support planning, design and bidding. The team conducted environmental review, water supply evaluation and condition assessments of the existing plant, providing the technical insight needed to guide the City’s decision-making.
Delivering Smart, Sustainable Infrastructure
The project team addressed site challenges through a coordinated geotechnical approach, allowing for shallow foundations with targeted ground improvements and balancing performance with cost and schedule. Freese and Nichols also supported the City through the state permitting process and assisted with contractor procurement through a competitive sealed bid process.
The City is funding the project through long-term, low-interest financing from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board, allowing Chickasha to move forward with critical improvements while maintaining financial stability.
Construction is now underway, and the new water treatment plant will serve the Chickasha community for decades to come.