Engineers recommend Fairfield contract with Eagle Mountain for treatment; commission forwards sewer master plan to council

A consultant presentation of Fairfield’s sewer master plan recommended that the town rely on Eagle Mountain’s existing treatment facility rather than build and operate its own wastewater treatment plant; planning commissioners forwarded the plan to the town council.

Consultant Rochelle summarized the study’s purpose: to predict future sewer flows, compare treatment options and evaluate alignments for a new collection system. Fairfield has no centralized sewer system today; the draft considered three collection alignments and two treatment alternatives: building a local nutrient‑removal facility or contracting treatment with Eagle Mountain.

The consultant recommended Alternative 2 — routing proposed flows north and connecting to Eagle Mountain’s Magnolia Road treatment facility — as the most economical approach and the one that best fits anticipated development sequencing. The draft breaks the preferred alignment into construction phases (trunk lines and laterals) and estimates project timing and costs tied to growth triggers.

Commissioners asked about coordination and approvals. Rochelle noted state permitting favors shared regional treatment facilities when feasible and that an interlocal agreement with Eagle Mountain — not a decision made at this meeting — would be needed if the town pursues that option.

During public comment and discussion commissioners reiterated the importance of being proactive about infrastructure planning while noting that forwarding the plan to council does not commit the town to immediate construction or to any interlocal agreement. The commission voted to forward the sewer master plan to the town council for review and potential adoption.