This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Moab has launched a $12.4 million project to replace its aging wastewater-treatment plant.
Crews began clearing a five-acre site at the city's north end, across from the current sewer plant, in preparation for spring construction of a new, higher-volume sewage plant to be finished sometime in 2018.
Rapid growth and a dramatic expansion of tourism in Moab (population 5,200) in recent years have strained the capacity of existing treatment facilities, originally built in the 1950s with upgrades in 1983 and 1996.
Mayor David Sakrison said building a new plant "is a fiscally responsible investment in the future health of our residents, the environment and the future success of Moab — from housing to tourism."
"It's exciting to see shovels in the ground on such an important project," Sakrison said in a statement.
Last month, city leaders began refusing to process human waste trucked to Moab from national parks and Bureau of Land Management campsites after the city incurred state water-quality violations over its discharges into the Colorado River.
The city also enacted a six-month moratorium on new commercial sewer connections and those serving homes not used as primary residences.
With an expected life span of up to 30 years, the new plant will be equipped to process 1.75 million gallons of wastewater daily, with greater capacity for handling wastes in higher concentrations, according to Moab City Manager David Everitt.
The new facility's design also anticipates a future expansion if needed.
Everitt said the city would lift its moratorium on some new sewer connections and resume processing waste from National Park Service and BLM sites when the new plant comes on line. Existing sewer customers, he said, would not see any interruption in service during the construction.
Bonds issued to pay for the project will be paid off with sales- and use-tax revenues from the city and other user fees. The project is also benefiting from a $10 million loan at low interest from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality.
Once the new facility is operational, city officials said the current treatment plant will be decommissioned and demolished, and the site and surrounding land will be converted to open space.
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