Colorado Springs Utilities plans to start operating and maintaining Fort Carson’s water distribution systems next year, alongside its continued oversight of the post’s electric and natural gas systems since 2022.

Beginning Jan. 1, Utilities wants to take on Fort Carson’s water distribution systems, including maintenance and helping upgrade the water control system. Utilities would also maintain the pipes that distribute chilled and hot water from central plants to the more than 100 buildings the plants serve across the post, Fort Carson and Utilities representatives said Wednesday.

“Let’s continue to support Fort Carson and making them such a viable, strong facility here in this community. I think our relationship is strong, and we continue to grow that. I’m excited to see this next phase going in,” Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal said after officials presented the plan to the Utilities Board of Directors.

Utilities is an established agency with more purchasing power for materials and system maintenance, and can bring in specialized equipment — leading to better service on Fort Carson, Utilities and post representatives said.

Before its 2022 agreement with the city-owned agency, Fort Carson relied on a smaller contractor for the services Utilities is providing. Fort Carson’s agreement with Utilities was for one year, but the term can be renewed for one-year periods for an additional nine years.

Since Utilities began operating and maintaining Fort Carson’s electric and natural gas systems, it has allowed for “drastic increase in quality” to Fort Carson’s systems, it has modernized equipment, brought the post in line with state-of-the-art industry standards and has improved Fort Carson’s resiliency, Dept. Garrison Cmdr. Joe Wyka said. Wyka also previously served as Fort Carson’s Public Works director.

Utilities has 11 full-time employees working out of Fort Carson daily. In January, the agency plans to boost the number of staff supporting operations at the mountain post up to 19, said Charlie Cassidy, Colorado Springs Utilities’ General Manager of Operations.

Expanding the agreement will not impact rates, Utilities and Fort Carson representatives said. Utilities operates within Fort Carson’s budget and all of the agency’s related costs are then passed back on to the military post, Cassidy said.

Both parties are also considering expanding the agreement in 2026 or 2027 to include wastewater collections, Cassidy said.