Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Water topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents raise standing water and discolored tap-water concerns; city staff describe cause and fixes
Summary
Residents raised long-running standing-water issues in the Marriott Slaterville area and recent discolored tap water in public comment. City staff said transmission-line pressure changes and recent construction-related hydrant activity caused discoloration and described mitigation steps and planned projects.
At the March 4 Ogden City Redevelopment Agency meeting, residents used the public-comment period to press city officials about standing stormwater on 1200 West near Marriott Slaterville and episodic tap-water discoloration in parts of north Ogden.
Gary Wayne described repeated, longstanding standing-water problems along 1200 West and urged the city to fulfill prior commitments to address the drainage. “...we’ve been told many, many things. I’ve been told it's been fixed. I’ve been told don't come here because this isn't the place,” Wayne said, recounting communications with city staff and developers about flood concerns.
During public comment, several other residents also raised water and neighborhood-drainage concerns. In response, city staff and the mayor provided technical details about the tap-water discoloration and the city’s infrastructure work.
Taylor Nielsen, the city engineer, explained that recent discoloration events coincided with large draws and hydrant operations that created pressure and velocity changes in major transmission mains, which dislodged deposits and produced aesthetic discoloration. “As they were opening and closing fire hydrants and doing some other items, it caused a lot of problems within the system,” Nielsen said, describing the effect of hydraulic transients on appurtenances and noting that crews inspected appurtenances and worked with other entities to fix the issue.
Nielsen said the immediate discoloration problem had been resolved and described ongoing and planned projects that will reduce future risk, including the Canyon Waterline, the Pine View Reservoir, and Wheeler Creek upgrades. He and other staff emphasized the water remained safe to drink and that aesthetic discoloration does not indicate a regulatory health violation. City staff said that pipeline lining and the completion of additional supply capacity in coming weeks should reduce recurrence of visible discoloration.
On the standing-water issue near Marriott Slaterville, the mayor and staff noted they had worked with WACOG and neighboring jurisdictions on a multi-phase transportation and drainage project; staff cited county funding awarded through WACOG for widening and drainage improvements on 1200 West. The mayor said the city had committed to coordinate with neighboring municipalities and WACOG and that funding had been prioritized at the regional level.
City staff encouraged residents to report discoloration events to the water utility and said crews will continue to inspect and address appurtenances and related infrastructure. Officials asked residents to allow the city to complete planned projects and to report new issues so staff can investigate.
