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Prescott Valley details water projects: effluent-recharge expansion, AMI meter upgrades, PFAS pilot and Big Chino modeling
Summary
Tracy Lund briefed the council on water and utilities initiatives including modeling to expand effluent recharge along the Agua Fria River (ADWR meeting slated), a stormwater roof-capture pilot, a WIFIA amendment for the Pronghorn recharge pilot, a $2.1 million grant replacing 4,000 MXU meters (4,871 addresses enabled), completion of a PFAS pilot and next procurement steps, and status of the Big Chino Water Ranch modeling.
Tracy Lund presented the annual utilities and water-resources update to the Prescott Valley Town Council, outlining near-term construction, pilot projects, grant-funded equipment purchases and longer-term regional water planning.
Lund said staff is pursuing permitting and modeling to expand effluent recharge along the Agua Fria River to increase the facility’s surface-area footprint and potential annual recharge credits; staff planned a meeting with the Arizona Department of Water Resources on May 12 to refine sizing and credit calculations. She described a stormwater roof-capture rollout at three town buildings (fairgrounds 'wheelhouse', police department and library) using StormTech systems sized for a 1-in rainfall event with designed percolation within 24 hours; grant reporting for those projects is due at the end of June.
On the Pronghorn recharge pilot, Lund said the WIFIA funding contract requires amendment because the pilot will test different basin approaches and the basins will later be covered and developed; staff expects to present an amended contract at the next regular council session and hopes to break ground this summer.
Lund announced the town received a $2.1 million grant to replace meter transmitters and reported the replacement of roughly 4,000 MXU meters, enabling 4,871 addresses to access near real-time data via the WaterSmart portal. She said grant reporting for that program also concludes at the end of June.
A PFAS pilot at Quailwood 3 comparing ion-exchange media is complete. Lund said bid documents and pre-purchase of long-lead items are underway, and staff expects to begin construction on PFAS-related projects this summer. The Old Black Canyon transmission main is at 99% design; right-of-way acquisitions and WIFIA loan finalization are underway with construction expected to follow bidding in the coming months.
On regional planning, Lund updated the council on the Big Chino Water Ranch partnership: Prescott owns the ranch, and staff reported final calibration of hydrologic models and upcoming scenario studies to assess pumping and impacts on the Verde River. Lund stressed the program’s large infrastructure costs and the need to identify how those costs will be borne, cautioning against simply selling water to drive growth.
Lund also warned that the wastewater treatment plant will require multi-year biological-process improvements and possibly substantial capital spending; staff plans a wastewater-plant master-plan study session in August. On fire protection, she said some older neighborhoods lack the larger-diameter lines needed for hydrants and that the town expects to add roughly 12–16 hydrants next year where feasible while targeting replacements and upsizing during major line projects.
No formal action or votes occurred during the study session; questions from council members prompted clarifications on measurement, safety and timelines.
