Caldwell public works lays out utility needs: wells rehabilitated, biosolids pilots and a $20 million lift-station project

City engineering and public works leaders presented an extensive utilities briefing that outlined near-term work across water, irrigation, wastewater and stormwater systems and identified rate and capacity implications.

Ashley (Water Division superintendent) and other public works staff described operations and compliance work for potable water and irrigation, noting the city maintains roughly 340 miles of water mains, 15 domestic wells and about 25,000 active water accounts. “All of these divisions with the exception of irrigation are regulated by higher government entities,” Ashley said, noting the Safe Drinking Water Act and state rules govern sampling and treatment requirements.

The water group is prioritizing rehabilitation of existing wells and booster stations before building new supply. City Engineer Haley Hart and staff described a program of testing, screen cleaning and pump replacements that they said has returned previously idle wells to service and increased well yields in several locations. Hart said a set of wells brought back online or rebooted could add hundreds of gallons per minute of usable capacity without the cost of new wells.

On wastewater, Public Works described recent pilot work on biosolids handling. The plant has tested screw presses, multi-disc presses, fan presses and its existing belt filter press to increase percent solids and reduce hauling and landfill tipping. Staff said dewatering has been chosen as part of the approach and that the next step is piloting dryers to produce a more portable, drier biosolids product. “We have money in this year's budget for the dewatering portion,” staff said.

City Attorney and staffors and Councilors asked about overall cost-benefit. Public Works leaders warned that drying and dewatering reduce haul costs but introduce other operating costs (power, maintenance) and that larger system fixes—trunk lines and lift stations—drive most of the utility budget decisions.

Robins Mullins, community development director, and public works leaders described a major sewer program centered on a Lincoln Lift Station and associated trunk mains. Mullins said the Lincoln Lift Station project, which will take two smaller lift stations offline and construct new gravity and force mains, is estimated “in the ballpark of $20,000,000.” That project is in design and listed as a near-term priority.

Other wastewater items: the city recently opened a septic-receiving station that accepts hauled septic waste; contractors pay a dumping fee. Public works staff noted that the septic volumes are small relative to the collection-system flow, but the station provides a local disposal option.

Stormwater teams discussed MS4 permit obligations and an airport-stormwater feasibility study that could lead to installing containment infrastructure to eliminate an airport discharge permit. Streets, electrical and mapping teams described complementary projects—chip seal programs, sidewalk repairs, new pedestrian signal installs, and mapping/GIS upgrades—that support utilities and public safety.

Rates and fees: engineering and finance representatives said they will present rate and connection-fee adjustments based on updated master-plan needs and recent rate studies. Staff emphasized that both operating inflation and capital needs from rapid population growth drive the need to align rates with the utilities’ capital-improvement plans.

Ending — Council members pressed staff on timing and cost tradeoffs. Public works leaders urged that rehabilitating existing infrastructure and moving forward on the Lincoln lift-station and selected biosolids investments be central to the next budget cycle and planning work.