Verde Water Treatment Plant Facilities Demolition Project

For over six decades, the Verde Water Treatment Plant helped meet the growing water demands of the City of Phoenix. Built in 1948 near the confluence of the Salt and Verde Rivers, the facility was located on land leased from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC). But by 2011, the plant was no longer needed, and the City began planning a large-scale demolition effort to remove the infrastructure and restore the site to its natural, pre-development condition. That task came with unique environmental, cultural, and sustainability challenges that required careful coordination, technical expertise, and a commitment to meaningful engagement with community stakeholders.

Carollo partnered with the City of Phoenix to lead the complete demolition of the 25-acre facility, removing structures and surface materials, including concrete and asphalt, and restoring the land to resemble the surrounding desert environment as closely as practical. Early in the process, the project team met with SRPMIC representatives to identify cultural and environmental concerns. One key consideration was protecting local wildlife, especially nesting bald eagles. Carollo worked with environmental specialists to sequence and execute demolition in a way that preserved nearby habitats and prevented disruption to the eagles’ nesting season.

Sustainability played a central role throughout the project. More than 95 percent of all demolition materials and plant equipment were recycled by weight, making it one of the most resource-conscious projects of its kind. A native plant survey helped identify vegetation that could be salvaged and replanted as part of the restoration effort, further supporting ecological resilience. To minimize construction-related impacts to the surrounding area, the team also conducted a traffic alternatives analysis to identify access routes that reduced travel time, lowered costs, and limited disruption to adjacent lands.

In recognition of its sustainability achievements, the Verde Water Treatment Plant Facilities Demolition Project earned the prestigious Envision^® Platinum award from the Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure, the first demolition project ever to do so. By approaching deconstruction with the same care and innovation as construction, Carollo helped the City of Phoenix transform a legacy facility into a model of environmental restoration and sustainable infrastructure.