Timpanogos wastewater district warns PFAS treatment and construction inflation will raise Highland sewer costs

Timpanogos Special Service District representatives told Highland City Council that federal and regulatory pressure to treat PFAS and other contaminants, combined with steep construction cost escalation, will force higher sewer user rates and impact fees.

District representative Brian Braithwaite, a former Highland councilor and the city’s representative to the district, described the district’s multi‑year treatment plant expansion and permitting process and said bids received in 2025 were roughly 2.5 times the amounts forecast earlier in the project. He said the district expects roughly $310 million in capital spending in 2026 and that continued inflation and regulatory changes drive the need for higher revenue.

PFAS concerns and legal strategy: Braithwaite said PFAS — the industrial “forever chemicals” regulators are beginning to limit in effluent — are not produced by the wastewater plant but must be removed at significant expense. He said the district is pushing to recover treatment costs from manufacturers that release PFAS into the environment and would pursue reimbursement through negotiation or litigation if necessary.

Planned rate and fee changes: The district told council it will implement a 15% user‑rate increase this year (the council was given prior notice), and Braithwaite said staff anticipates smaller increases thereafter (approximately 3% annually in later years). Impact fees for new development will also rise; the district circulated a resolution showing the planned schedule. Highland staff said they will revisit the city’s sewer‑rate study and bring a recommendation to the council to incorporate the district’s 15% increase.

Billing method and fairness: Council members asked whether bills are city‑equalized or based on usage. Braithwaite said the district bills based on equivalent residential units (ERUs) and customer usage; he said the district seeks to equitably allocate costs between high‑density and low‑density users and to ensure builders pay impact fees reflecting project demands.

Operational details: The district described ongoing work to reduce inflow/infiltration from groundwater and stormwater, pipe relining in some neighborhoods and a long‑range, modular design intended to allow future regulatory or capacity upgrades. Officials said the planned expansion has a 30‑ to 60‑year outlook depending on the component; some piping and structures are designed for multi‑decade service lives.

Council response and next steps: Highland council members expressed frustration about “more bad news” for residents but acknowledged the district’s constrained choices given inflation and regulatory pressures. Highland staff said they will incorporate the Timpanogos district’s 15% increase into the city’s study and bring a formal recommendation back to the council.

Evidence: Braithwaite presented district projections, a copy of the district resolution on impact fees and handouts on PFAS treatment challenges and costs.