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Ramah RW&SD board selects option to build new wastewater package plant, estimates ~$2.5 million
Summary
On Feb. 11, 2025, the Ramah Water and Sewer District board voted unanimously to adopt option 2 from an engineering preliminary report: build a new elevated package wastewater plant (estimated about $2.5 million). The board scheduled a public meeting Feb. 18 to finalize the PER.
Ramah Water and Sewer District board members voted unanimously Feb. 11 to pursue a new package wastewater plant after engineer Marc DePauli presented a preliminary engineering report outlining four options.
Engineer Marc DePauli described the choices: repairing the existing plant (estimated about $1.5 million but not recommended because of embedded steel), building a new elevated package plant (about $2.5 million), an extended‑aeration plant (about $6 million and not suitable for the district’s population) and a facultative lagoon/evaporation pond zero‑discharge option (about $3 million, requiring several acres and liners). The board discussed tradeoffs including denitrification performance, odor, liner lifespan and long‑term maintenance and electricity costs.
Whitney River-Croley, a board member, moved to adopt option 2 (build a new package plant); Micheal Croley seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Board Chairman Robert Montague said the decision gives the district a viable path to updating its wastewater infrastructure while allowing repairs on the older plant during construction.
The board noted the lagoon option would require substantial land and periodic liner replacement—DePauli said liners would likely need replacement about every 20 years if no tears occurred—and that an extended aeration plant would be substantially more expensive than the district needs. The package plant was highlighted for higher efficiency and the ability to site the new plant adjacent to the existing facility so one system could operate while the other is serviced.
Chairman Montague announced a public meeting for Feb. 18 to finalize the wastewater PER and formally notify the public of the board’s preferred option.
What happens next: the board and engineer will refine cost and site details before seeking funding and regulatory approvals. The district discussed possible funding paths, including capital outlay and federal grants; no construction contracts were awarded at the meeting.
