Sewer plant considered for 10 cities
The 10 incorporated cities in the south valley have tasked the South Utah Valley Municipal Water Association — an organization of elected officials representing the 10 cities involved — with researching the feasibility of building a regional wastewater treatment facility to meet the area's rapidly growing demand.
Details such as where the plant would be located and how it would be paid for and managed have yet to be discussed. At this point, the question being asked is if the plant is really needed?
"I think that's yet to be decided," said Springville Mayor Gene R. Mangum. "There's some concept that as this area continues to grow, it's going to become cost prohibitive for each of the cities to have their own treatment plants that are sufficient to do the job."
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population in the southern part of Utah County grew by 24.3 percent between 2000 and 2005.
The bureau estimates the total population of the 10 cities at 91,051. And with major housing projects still in the works, particularly in Spanish Fork and Mapleton, the end of the population boom isn't in sight.
Growth, however, isn't the only concern. The recently formed Utah Lake Study Commission is reviewing the levels of phosphates, which are found in the treated water that cities drain into the lake, and is considering restricting the amount of phosphates cities are allowed to put in the lake. If the limit is significantly reduced, cities would likely have to upgrade existing water-treatment facilities.
Some leaders in the south part of Utah County believe the regional plant will eventually be a must for the area, but others are waiting on the study's results before forming an opinion.
"Every city is going to have to have wastewater treatment and sewage treatment," Mangum said. "That's a current need — people need to flush their toilets today. So you've got to keep that need in front of everyone, while at the same time looking ahead and planning for the future. It really seems like it's going to be difficult to plan."
The study has no timetable, but once it is completed, association members anticipate more information will be available to decision-makers and the general public. If a regional treatment plant were to be built, it would likely not be for some time.
"It depends on how quick the cities can come together as far as coming to a consensus that they need to do it," said Spanish Fork Councilman G. Wayne Andersen. "Once we have agreement with all the cities, things could happen relatively quickly. But until that point in time, basically we're just going to be talking it up."
E-mail: jtwitchell@desnews.com
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