Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Resources topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council backs study to expand partial effluent reuse system, weighing full citywide option
Summary
City engineers told the council a budgeted study will evaluate using Type 1 effluent for irrigation and infrastructure needs; staff recommended a staged, partial 'backbone' expansion serving large customers rather than a full citywide system, and council generally supported that approach while asking staff to evaluate storage and industrial/port‑area uses.
Jonathan Stout of the City Engineering Department presented a council‑budgeted study to evaluate reuse of Type 1 effluent and the infrastructure required to deliver it across Cedar City.
Stout said the city currently irrigates just under 200 acres with the partial secondary system (about 800 acre‑feet) and that expanding the partial backbone could serve roughly 330 acres (~1,300 acre‑feet). "If you include the two wells, the Cemetery well and the Northfield well, we have approximately 4,600 acre‑feet that could be used," Stout said. He also said the available effluent portion attributable to the city is roughly 3,400 acre‑feet.
Council discussion focused on whether to study a full citywide secondary irrigation system or prioritize a backbone system aimed at large outdoor users (parks, schools, churches, golf course). Several councilmembers and staff favored the staged backbone approach, noting potential conservation tradeoffs if a citywide system encourages higher residential water use. Councilmember(s) also asked staff to include analysis of winter storage/recharge options and the feasibility of serving industrial users near Port 15 for cooling uses.
Stout said the current budget likely covers a more basic scope (partial system expansion) and that a full citywide feasibility study would require more funds. He committed to return with cost estimates and a recommended scope.
Next steps: staff to proceed with the study on the partial/backbone system scope, include cost estimates, and evaluate winter storage, recharge and industrial trunk‑line options for future consideration.
