Finished Water A PHOTOGR APHIC P ROFILE

https://doi.org/10.1002/opfl.1120

The Town of Walden’s solar array illustrates how

tomorrow’s sustainable power generation is affordable
today for water systems of all sizes.

COLORADO TOWN IMPLEMENTS FLOATING SOLAR ARRAY TO HELP POWER

WATER TREATMENT
Walden, Colo., a small town of about
600 residents, implemented the state’s
first-ever floating solar array to provide
a renewable and supplemental energy
source to treat drinking water for the
town, school district, and county offices.
The project highlights the positive impact
a small town can have on a community’s
overall sustainability.
“This is a monumental project for our
town and will help to further our reputa-
In addition to funding secured through
the Colorado Department of Local Affairs,
the project was made possible through
a performance contract with Johnson
Controls that was supported by the
Colorado Energy Office. Through the
contract, Walden is guaranteed energy
savings and approximately 2.5 million
kW•h over the next 20 years.
PROJECT SPECIFICS
Johnson Controls was the energy
performance contractor.
Completion Date: Fall 2018
Water Source: The array sits on a pond
outside the town’s water treatment facility.
Technology: Floating solar array
Project Cost: $400,000
Service: The array will save $10,000
a year in electricity costs and has the
potential to completely power the
town’s drinking water facility, which
PHOTOGRAPHS: TOWN OF WALDEN (COLO.)

tion as a leader in sustainability,” said Jim
Dustin, Walden’s mayor. “This project is a
testament to what can be achieved with
a little bit of sun, multiple state agencies,
and private industries working together
for one common goal, and it provides a
great example for other towns across the
state and country to emulate.”
Operator: Town of Walden
Designer/Contractors: Ciel & Terre,
a floating rack manufacturer, in
partnership with the nonprofit
organization GRID Alternatives
Colorado, a leader in making clean,
affordable solar power and jobs
accessible to low-income communities.
delivers potable water to residents
and public buildings in and around
northwestern Colorado’s Jackson
County. The array will also help
conserve water by limiting pond
evaporation and potentially minimize
algae growth in the pond.
Physical Size: Array capacity is 75 kW.

36 Opflow December 2018 www.awwa.org/opflow