Santaquin approves major equipment for new sewer treatment plant

SANTAQUIN — City officials took a major step toward constructing a new sewer treatment plant last week when they approved the purchase of a membrane bioreactor.

The contact was awarded to Zenon Environmental Corp.

City officials are hoping to see ground broken for the new $16.3 million facility on the north end of town in the spring, said Santaquin City Councilman Martin Green.

City officials are still working to obtain funding from state and federal sources in loans and grants.

Even if the plant is built, the sewer lagoons that have served the city for years will need to be upgraded to meet demand, Green said. The lagoons are at capacity.

The City Council has looked at other alternatives but is now focused on building the community's own plant, although monthly sewer charges will go up and possibly double. The current bill averages $22 a month, officials said.

In October, the state engineer granted Santaquin a license to reuse 6,000 acre-feet of water per year for irrigation when the treatment plant is built, or enough water to serve a population of 50,000, some five times the current population.

Mayor Jim DeGraffenreid estimates the value of the water at $30 million annually.

— Rodger L. Hardy