Commonwealth Electric Company of the Midwest’s work to support the long-term drinking water needs of the City of Lincoln, NE, continues through two major interconnected infrastructure projects: the Ashland Water Treatment Facility Upgrades and the Lincoln Collector Wells and Transmission Main. Together, the electrical efforts represent more than $15 million in revenue and will significantly expand the city’s water supply capacity while ensuring safe, reliable drinking water for decades to come.

The Ashland Water Treatment Facility, a turnkey project in Ashland, NE, valued at ~$10 million, is being delivered with our team serving as the sole electrical contractor and led by our Technical Services Department. Our scope of work includes the supply and installation of all new electrical gear and equipment, including switchgear, motor control centers (MCCs), controls, and instrumentation necessary to support increased capacity and modernized treatment processes. Electrical distribution and cabling installations will utilize underground duct banks, concealed conduit, and cable tray systems throughout the facility. Project Foreman Troy Michaud shared, “In my 30 years’ experience in electrical, this is the largest, most complex, and coolest project I’ve ever worked on.” Spanning nearly two years, the project reflects the size, complexity, and importance of these long-term improvements. When complete, the upgraded plant will provide a dependable supply of safe drinking water for the next 20–25 years. Feeding directly into this upgraded facility is the Lincoln Collector Wells and Transmission Main project, a $5 million, turnkey effort in which our team is also responsible for the complete electrical scope. This includes new switchgear, controls, instrumentation, and associated power and signal cabling to support two new collector wells along the Platte River. Raw groundwater will be delivered to the Ashland plant through a newly constructed transmission main, creating a streamlined and resilient supply path from source to treatment.

By advancing both projects in parallel over a multiyear timeframe, we are helping the City of Lincoln build a stronger, more sustainable water system—one designed to protect public health, support future growth, and provide long term reliability for the community.