Richmond City

Due to a number of reasons—increasing population, industrial growth, and changes in the regulations for discharging treated wastewater (sewage)—Richmond was faced with the challenge of upgrading the current lagoon ponds. Because of the renewal of our water discharge permit, our community was one of the first in the state that fell under the new EPA regulations, particularly the requirement to remove enough phosphorus for us to be able to discharge treated water into the river.

Many options for meeting the discharge requirements, both now and in the foreseeable future, were explored, beginning in 2002. As discussions and research proceeded, these options were narrowed down to six. After a number of public hearings and numerous presentations, the council chose to build a membrane bio-reactor plant. Although one of the costliest options, it allows for easy expansion and installation of other equipment as EPA discharge regulations changed. Richmond received some very generous grants and no-interest loans both from the state and the Federal Army Corps of Engineers.

In return for the grants ($1.3 million) and loans ($3.6 million), the city agreed to implement impact fees and increase sewer fees. Through a number of studies, the state determined that Richmond residents should pay a fee of $41 as their part of the cost of a treatment plant. This fee would be the same regardless of which treatment plant option was chosen. Therefore, the council decided to go with the option giving us the 'biggest bang for the buck'.

The ordinance establishes the monthly sewer rates from 2007 through June of 2013. The current fee is $43 per month. Each fiscal year (through June 2013), the fee will increase by $1 to account for inflation.

This fee is only for a base discharge of 20,000 gallons per month (based on the amount of culinary water metered into the residence). Amounts over that base will be charged $1 per each additional 1000 gallons. There are provisions in the ordinance for certain exemptions.

The city's maintenance supervisor, Scott Ball, is also the operator of the plant. He monitors the effluent and tracks down discharges that could harm the 'bugs' in the bio-reactor 'soup' among many other duties.

John Cook and Ed Macauley from the Division of Water Quality presented a plaque at the July 22nd council meeting recognizing Richmond City "for its outstanding efforts in support of Utah's Clean Water Program through its wastewater facility construction."