Water

Planning, Designing & Sustaining Drinking Water Systems That Communities Rely On

Safe, reliable drinking water is fundamental to healthy communities. Across the Pacific Northwest, RH2 partners with cities, districts, and utilities to plan, design, and support water systems that serve people today while preparing for future needs. Our teams work across the full life cycle of water infrastructure, from long-range planning and source development to treatment, storage, and distribution. We help communities deliver clean, dependable water.

At RH2, water projects are more than technical exercises. They require thoughtful coordination with operators, regulators, and community stakeholders, along with practical engineering that reflects how systems are built, operated, and maintained in the real world.

All Services

Water Services at a Glance

Water system planning and capital improvement programs.
Hydraulic modeling and system analysis.
Water rights support and long-term supply strategy.
Water supply development and groundwater services.
Water treatment and disinfection.
Reservoirs, storage tanks, and pump stations.
Pressure management and system reliability.
Transmission and distribution systems.
Construction-phase and operational support.

Integrated Teams, Practical Solutions

RH2’s water group brings together engineers, scientists, hydrogeologists, and water rights specialists who collaborate closely across disciplines. This integrated approach allows our teams to stay engaged from early planning through construction and into operation, providing continuity for clients and meaningful, hands-on experience for staff.

Rather than handing projects off between phases, the same engineers and specialists remain involved throughout, building familiarity with each system and helping clients navigate technical, regulatory, and operational decisions with confidence.

Aerial view of two circular concrete water storage tanks in wooded area

Planning & Modeling That Inform Real Decisions

Water system planning is a cornerstone of RH2’s practice. Our teams have completed water system plans for utilities across Washington, Oregon, and Idaho, helping communities move beyond compliance-driven planning toward tools that support day-to-day operations and long-term investment decisions.

Our planning and modeling work helps clients:

Understand system capacity, pressure, and fire flow performance.
Evaluate growth, development and climate-related impacts.
Prioritize capital improvements and funding strategies.
Test operational and emergency scenarios.

We develop hydraulic models that reflect how systems actually operate, not just how they appear on paper. Many models are integrated with GIS, allowing utility staff to visualize results, update assumptions, and continue using these tools long after a planning effort is complete.

Water Rights & Long-Term Supply Stewardship

RH2 supports a wide range of drinking water supply and treatment needs, from groundwater and surface water development to complex treatment facilities. Our teams evaluate source water quality, assess regulatory requirements, and design treatment processes that protect public health while remaining practical for operators to run and maintain.

Keeping the same project team involved from concept through construction and startup helps improve coordination, reduce risk, and deliver facilities that perform as intended and support reliable operations.

Storage, Pumping & System Reliability

Water storage and pumping facilities play a critical role in maintaining pressure, meeting peak demands, and supporting fire protection and emergency response. RH2 has designed and rehabilitated reservoirs, tanks, and pump stations for systems ranging from small rural utilities to complex urban networks.

Our designs emphasize operational reliability, operator safety, seismic resilience, and long-term performance. We use 3D modeling to improve coordination, evaluate constructability, and help clients and stakeholders clearly understand proposed facilities before construction begins.

Transmission, Distribution & Community-Focused Design

RH2 designs transmission and distribution systems that support both established neighborhoods and growing service areas. Our work spans a wide range of scales and system types, including:

Transmission and distribution pipelines across a wide range of diameters and materials, from small local mains to large regional conveyance systems.
Gravity and pressure systems extending service to expanding communities.
Pipeline corridors coordinated with roadway and utility infrastructure.

These projects require careful evaluation of alignment options, pressure zones, phasing, and constructability. Whether upgrading aging pipelines or extending service to support future growth, our teams coordinate closely with utility staff, roadway agencies, and environmental specialists to deliver durable, maintainable systems that balance hydraulic performance with community impacts.

Thinking about Joining Our Team?

Water engineering and related activities at RH2 are collaborative, technically engaging, and deeply meaningful. Team members work alongside experienced mentors on projects that directly support public health, fire protection, economic development, and environmental stewardship. From field investigations and modeling to facility design and construction support, staff gain exposure to the full life cycle of water infrastructure and see firsthand how their work improves daily life in communities across the Pacific Northwest.

Careers at RH2