Magna Zone 3 Secondary Water Reservoir

Expanding Water Storage for a Growing Community

As communities continue to grow, reliable water infrastructure becomes increasingly important.

Working for Magna Water District, Newman Construction built the Zone 3 Secondary Water Reservoir, a nearly 20-acre-foot lined storage reservoir designed to expand irrigation water capacity, improve system reliability, and support future growth throughout the District.

Completed in just five months, the project included reservoir excavation, embankment construction, inlet, outlet and overflow structures, installation of approximately 3,700 linear feet of 16-inch pipeline, pond lining, and full site restoration.

Building More Than a Reservoir

Although the finished project appears to be a simple water storage pond, constructing a reservoir of this size requires careful engineering from the ground up.

The embankments were built in carefully compacted layers with tightly controlled moisture content to create a stable structure that will perform reliably for decades. Every phase of construction—from excavation to grading—required precision to ensure the finished reservoir met strict design requirements.

Overcoming Challenging Site Conditions

One of the project's biggest challenges came before construction could fully begin.

Groundwater continually collected at the bottom of the excavation, making it difficult to establish a stable working surface. Newman crews installed additional drain lines and implemented dewatering measures to keep the excavation dry while work progressed.

Despite the challenging conditions, construction continued safely and efficiently, allowing the team to complete the project on schedule.

The Finishing Touches

For Superintendent Courtney Bixler and the Newman crew, the most rewarding moment came during final grading.

After months of excavation, embankment construction, underground utilities, and liner installation, the project transformed from a muddy excavation into a finished reservoir ready to serve Magna Water District's growing secondary water system.

While much of the work now lies beneath the surface, the completed reservoir will help provide reliable irrigation water capacity for years to come.

Project Highlights

Owner
Magna Water District

Construction Management
Epic Engineering

Location
Magna, Utah

Completed
Substantial Completion – April 15, 2026

Construction Duration
5 Months

Scope

• 19.98 acre-foot secondary water storage reservoir
• Reservoir excavation
• Embankment construction
• Pond liner installation
• Inlet, outlet and overflow structures
• 3,700 LF of 16-inch pipeline
• Site restoration

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