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Engineers warn Manila’s wells are declining; treatment plant would cost tens of millions
Summary
Consulting engineers told the Town of Manila Council that local wells show falling water levels and that a new 2 MGD treatment plant could cost roughly $21.7 million–$34.5 million; staff recommended phased aquifer testing, metering improvements and exploring alternate well sites before major capital work.
Mayor Kathi Knight and consulting engineers presented a review of the town’s water supply and possible treatment options at the Feb. 12 council meeting.
Todd Hurd, division manager for Forsgren Associates, introduced his team and said a comparable 2-million-gallon-per-day surface water treatment plant could cost roughly $21.7 million to $34.5 million, depending on configuration and treatment requirements, and that final costs depend on source water quality and regulatory standards, according to senior engineer Gareth Powell.
Benjamin Jordan, Forsgren’s groundwater and well specialist, said Wells 1 and 2 draw from the Weber sandstone formation and have experienced significant long‑term water‑level declines. He said Well 3 has also shown declines, raising concern that the aquifer is being depleted faster than it is recharged. Jordan recommended a phased technical program: comprehensive aquifer evaluation using pump tests and SCADA data, estimates of recharge based on precipitation and outcrop area, evaluation of alternative well locations (including Paleozoic limestone formations), and short‑, mid‑ and long‑term supply planning.
Jordan cautioned that extending pipelines and three‑phase power to new well locations could cost “$1.25 million or more,” depending on distance and terrain.
Council members and Forsgren staff discussed the tradeoffs between drilling new wells, which could further depress nearby wells, and investing in a surface water treatment plant. Powell emphasized that treatment needs and costs are driven by source‑water quality and the chosen treatment processes.
The consultants and town staff recommended improving metering and data collection before committing to major capital projects. Jeff McCarty (Sunrise Engineering) and the consultants said the State usually wants several years of accurate source‑side meter data and tank inflow data to determine reliable system capacity. McCarty said replacement of the meter below the one‑million‑gallon tank, estimated at about $8,000–$10,000, would better measure water entering the distribution system and help identify losses.
The council did not vote on any water projects at the meeting. Forsgren recommended that the town develop a comprehensive, phased water‑supply plan and proceed with targeted testing and metering before considering large treatment or drilling projects.
