Flagstaff details multiyear water and sewer capital program; Wildcat interceptor, Lake Mary pipeline and Rio solids handling among priorities

Lee Williams, Flagstaff's Water Services Director, told the City Council on March 24 that a multi‑year package of water, sewer and reclamation projects — some on the books since 2015 — is now advancing thanks in part to a recent rate increase.

"We have used that money — wisely I hope — to move these bigger projects forward," Williams said, and then introduced project managers to describe key work.

Jackson Salazar updated council on the Wildcat Interceptor project: crews are replacing about one mile of sewer, upsizing a 33‑inch line to 48‑inches between the south side of I‑40 and the Wildcat Hill Water Reclamation Facility; construction has completed roughly 1,700 of an estimated 5,450 feet. Salazar also described a Rio de Flag solids‑handling facility that will use low‑temperature dryers to reduce solids volume for haul‑off (design ~60% complete), and the Switzer Phase 5 water‑line (dual pipeline connecting to the North Reservoir plant; 90% design and property legal descriptions underway).

Justin Emmerch, project manager, reviewed Lake Mary work: rehabilitation of two 1‑million‑gallon sedimentation basins with PCL selected as construction contractor (GMP #1 for construction reported in late 2025 at about $13.66 million), and design procurement for a five‑mile Lake Mary raw waterline replacement of aging 27‑inch reinforced concrete/steel pipe dating to the 1960s (Dura Engineers was selected for design). Emmerch said the replacement will be built in parallel to keep the existing pipeline in service and avoid prolonged downtime.

Staff also described Fort Tutill Well No. 2 (test pumping showed flows up to about 1,000 gpm and sustained test yields cited around 400 gpm), a reclaimed‑water bottleneck replacement (replace ~1.2 miles of 8‑inch pipe to increase throughput from ~800 gpm to transmission capacity commensurate with a full day's demand), and meter‑and‑vault upgrades including a large campus meter replacement for NA's campus. Lee Williams told council that some projects were accelerated by the rate increase; others will use a mix of grant funding and city contributions.

Ed Shank, stormwater section director, summarized a suite of flood‑mitigation projects including Spruce Wash (roughly $26 million from Proposition 441 plus an additional ~$14 million expected from grants and city contributions), Santa Fe drainage lateral (Army Corps EI595 grant ~$1.2M; 100% design), and Fanning Wash channel/diversion upgrades (to increase channel capacity and reduce flood risk near schools and neighborhoods). Shank noted some projects are bid and under contract (a Fanning Wash channel improvement starting April 1 with completion targeted by July 1), while others are awaiting FEMA HMGP awards; staff explained a federal pause in awarding some HMGP funds has delayed reimbursements for certain projects, creating timing uncertainty.

Council members pressed staff on reuse options for dried solids (biochar, fertilizer, energy) and on the schedule and funding risks for HMGP‑dependent projects. Williams and staff said the current solids plan is landfill haul‑off while other beneficial uses are being evaluated; they cautioned that construction before monsoon season would be difficult for major drainage projects even if local funds were found, and that FEMA reimbursement requires pre‑award compliance.

Staff said more detailed capital updates will be available at the April 23 budget retreat and offered to arrange site tours for council members.