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Wastewater operators report White Rock plant online; clay mains and blockages remain focus
Summary
Wastewater staff told the Board of Public Utilities that the White Rock treatment plant is operating well, several lift station upgrades are complete, and aging clay pipelines and sewer blockages (wipes, fats/oils/grease) are the top maintenance concerns.
Los Alamos wastewater staff reported to the Board of Public Utilities on June 25 that both the White Rock and Los Alamos treatment plants are operating and producing high‑quality effluent, and that a recent gravity sewer tie-in eliminated a critical lift station at Bio Canyon.
Why it matters: the department said the system's near‑term maintenance priority is aging clay mains, which are prone to cracking and root intrusion and drive much of the costly reactive work and lift‑station repairs.
Clay pipelines and maintenance: Wastewater Superintendent Clay (last name not provided in the transcript) summarized recent work: the White Rock plant has been brought online and is operating well; a new gravity sewer segment re‑routed flow away from an older lift station; and many lift stations received upgrades. He told the board that collection crews — a small, cross‑trained team — are identifying weak spots and responding to unplanned blockages.
Public outreach and causes of blockages: staff and outreach personnel said public education has become critical because many blockages stem from so‑called “flushable” wipes, fats/oils/grease and inappropriate items being discharged to household sewers. Staff praised recent public outreach (school and community tours, Science Fest demonstrations) and said that continued messaging is essential to reduce costly obstructions.
Comparisons and testing: board members asked whether the county's wastewater testing and surveillance (for viruses, etc.) is consistent with other counties. Staff said the county performs virus and chemical profiling and works with a commercial lab (BioBot testing was discussed) and that adding tests such as measles would require adding tests to the lab profile; staff said they would follow up with cost and logistics.
Next steps: staff said long‑term priorities include targeting clay‑main replacement in the townsite, tracking budget variances tied to reactive work, continuing lift station modernization, and maintaining public outreach to reduce sewer blockages. The board thanked staff for the update and for public‑education efforts.
