Rice Lake West, Inc.

What Rice Lake West, Inc. does

Rice Lake West, Inc. is a specialty construction contractor that designs and builds water and wastewater treatment infrastructure for municipal, federal, and private-sector clients across the Mountain West and Upper Great Plains regions of the United States. Founded in 1997 in Colorado (originally as Stanek Constructors) and rebranded to Rice Lake West in 2024, the company has been a wholly-owned subsidiary of Water Resources Group (WRG) since 2018. It self-performs up to 70% of typical treatment-plant construction across 11 specialties — including concrete, process piping, equipment installation, structural steel, and site utilities — supported by an in-house fleet of heavy construction equipment. The company employs Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) tools to bridge design and construction phases, enabling clash detection, constructability reviews, and reduced rework.

The company offers a full range of project delivery methods — Design-Bid-Build, Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR), Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC), Design-Build, and Progressive Design-Build (PDB) — and provides preconstruction services such as cost analysis, schedule input, and value engineering. Project values disclosed in source material range from $1.87M to over $85M, with named municipal clients including the City of Westminster, Niwot Sanitation District, Woodmoor Water and Sanitation District, the North Dakota Department of Water Supply, and the Town of Crested Butte. The largest disclosed contract awards are the SW Water Treatment Plant (>$85M, municipal) and the North Platte Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant in Nebraska (>$65M, CMAR). The company operates from offices in Golden (CO), Watertown (SD), and Fargo (ND) and serves Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

The business model is project-based B2B construction services revenue, with contracts structured as competitive bids, Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) agreements, or negotiated fixed-price design-build arrangements. Billing cycles are multi-year per individual project. The company was ranked #330 on the 2026 ENR Top 400 Contractors list and is recognized as an ENR Top 200 Environmental Firm. It maintains an Experience Modification Rate (EMR) of 0.50 and a Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR) of 1.04, indicating safety performance well below industry averages — a meaningful prequalification factor for public-sector owners. Active collaborative-delivery project backlog is disclosed at $134M, with $206M+ in completed preconstruction engagements across 34 collaborative projects.

Name

Rice Lake West, Inc.

Legal name

Rice Lake West

Website

https://www.rlwest.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Rice Lake West is a specialty construction contractor that self-performs water and wastewater treatment facility construction for municipal, federal, and private-sector clients across the Mountain West and Upper Great Plains (Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota), offering CMAR, Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, and Design-Bid-Build delivery methods under parent Water Resources Group (WRG).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Construction

NAICS

Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (237110), Utility System Construction (2371), Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Treatment Plant Construction (Drinking Water) (IMAFAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Reuse & Reclamation Infrastructure Construction (Recycled Water Systems) (IMAFAGAH), Water & Wastewater Pipeline Construction (Mains, Force Mains, Interceptors) (IMAFAGAC), Storage & Conveyance Structures (Reservoirs, Tanks, Culverts, Tunnels) (IMAFAGAE), Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE)

Keywords

• Water treatment construction
• Wastewater infrastructure construction
• Design-build construction services
• Municipal construction contracting
• Environmental civil construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Golden

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. General Contracting - Construction Services: Traditional general contracting services managing full scope of construction operations including contract administration, coordination of materials, labor, equipment, and services for water and wastewater infrastructure projects.
2. Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR/CMGC): Early collaboration during design phase with constructability reviews, cost analysis, and schedule input. Serving as contractor during construction under a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) with assumed financial risk.
3. Design-Build and Progressive Design-Build (PDB): Partnering with design professionals from project inception with full responsibility for construction execution. Progressive Design-Build allows phased and collaborative process with real-time estimating during design.
4. Subcontracting Services: Select subcontracting services including mass concrete placement, process piping, and process equipment installation to support other general contractors.
5. Preconstruction Services: Preconstruction services including constructability reviews, cost analysis, schedule input, value engineering, and early procurement strategies to optimize project outcomes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Rice Lake West is a self-performing construction contractor that builds water and wastewater treatment facilities, pump stations, reservoirs, and industrial water infrastructure for municipalities, federal agencies, and private sector clients. The company delivers projects through multiple methods including CMAR, CMGC, Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, and Design-Bid-Build, and self-performs up to 70% of construction across 11 specialties such as concrete, process piping, equipment installation, structural steel, and site utilities, using Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) tools to bridge design and construction.

Product overview

Rice Lake West is a water and wastewater treatment construction company offering a comprehensive suite of construction services and collaborative delivery methods. The company specializes in building water and wastewater treatment facilities, pump stations, and industrial water infrastructure through multiple project delivery methods including CMGC, CMAR, Design-Build, Progressive Design-Build, Design-Bid-Build, and Construction Management. The company self-performs key trades such as concrete, process piping, equipment installation, structural steel, and site utilities, maintaining tight control over safety, quality, schedule, and cost. Additionally, the company leverages Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) tools to enhance collaboration and improve project outcomes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Treatment Facility Construction Construction of water treatment facilities of all sizes for municipal, federal, and private sector clients across the Western United States, including treatment plants, intake structures, and related infrastructure.
• Wastewater Treatment Facility Construction Construction of wastewater treatment plants and facilities for municipalities, federal agencies, and private sector clients, including new construction, retrofits, and rehabilitations.
• Self-Perform Construction Services In-house construction capabilities covering 11 specialties including site piping, demolition, excavation, concrete work, structural steel erection, miscellaneous metals installation, carpentry, process equipment installation, and process piping.
• Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) Delivery method providing early collaboration, pricing transparency, and risk mitigation with input during design and serving as contractor during construction under a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP).
• Construction Manager/General Contractor (CMGC) Full-service project support from early design through construction with constructability reviews, cost analysis, and schedule input during design, transitioning to General Contractor role under a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP).
• Design-Build (DB) Partnership with design professionals from project inception with constructability, cost, and schedule input during design and full responsibility for project execution.
• Progressive Design-Build (PDB) Phased and collaborative process with real-time estimating, constructability feedback, and risk assessment during design, with full responsibility for construction execution.
• Design-Bid-Build Traditional competitive bid model on fully designed projects with management of construction execution including coordination of materials, labor, equipment, and services.
• Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) Advanced virtual design tools that enhance collaboration, streamline workflows, and improve project outcomes through virtual models for greater visibility into project details, clash identification, and constructability.
• Pump Station Construction Construction of pump stations including high service pump stations, booster stations, and lift stations with pumping, piping, and mechanical systems.
• Reservoir and Control Structure Construction Construction of reservoirs and hydraulic control structures as part of water supply infrastructure projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• EMR (Experience Modification Rate) of 0.50 - well below industry average, demonstrating superior safety performance
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• JVA Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Design partner for Progressive Design-Build projects including the Niwot Wastewater Treatment Facility upgrade. Collaborates on design development, constructability reviews, and integrated project delivery.
• Water Resources Group (WRG)flagshipOthers · 1 January 2018Parent company and majority owner of Rice Lake West. WRG is a privately held infrastructure construction services corporation and Top 100 ENR company. Provides streamlined systems, processes, safety programs, and extensive resources that enhance Rice Lake West's capabilities.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sundt Construction: Sundt is a large employee-owned general contractor with a strong water/wastewater treatment practice in the Southwest and Mountain West — competing for similar municipal owner relationships.
• Ames Construction: Ames is a heavy civil contractor with significant water/wastewater, utility, and industrial infrastructure work across the Western U.S. — overlapping with RLW on large treatment plant and pipeline projects.
• Walsh Construction: Walsh is a heavy civil and building contractor executing water treatment, pump station, and pipeline work — a comparable Western U.S. presence with overlapping public-sector pursuits.
• Black & Veatch: Black & Veatch is a global EPC and engineering firm with a large water business — competing with RLW on Design-Build water and wastewater treatment projects for municipal clients.
• Kiewit Corporation: Kiewit is one of North America's largest infrastructure contractors with a substantial water/wastewater treatment practice alongside transportation, power, and oil & gas — a broader incumbent competing for the same large public-works pursuits.
• PCL Construction: PCL is a major North American contractor executing water treatment, civil, and industrial projects — a broader incumbent with comparable collaborative-delivery and self-perform depth.

Direct peers

• Bowen Engineering Corporation: Bowen is an Indiana-based specialty contractor focused on water and wastewater treatment plant construction with strong self-perform capabilities — a closely comparable peer in product offering, customer base, and delivery methods.
• Shambaugh & Son (Shambaugh Leadership Group): Shambaugh is a specialty mechanical and process contractor executing water and wastewater treatment plant construction nationwide, with comparable self-perform process-piping and equipment-installation capabilities.
• Garney Construction: Garney is a national employee-owned water and wastewater treatment plant constructor with a heavy self-perform model and CMAR/Design-Build delivery expertise — directly comparable to Rice Lake West in target market, delivery methods, and specialty.

Others

• CDM Smith: CDM Smith is a major water-focused engineering and consulting firm — adjacent rather than directly competitive, but frequently partners with or competes against constructors like RLW on collaborative-delivery pursuits.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RiceLakeWest
• Facebookfacebook.com/ricelakewestinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ricelakewest
• Instagraminstagram.com/ricelakewest

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rice Lake West, Inc.