By Tracie Sullivan, for Iron County Today
Cedar City has secured over $2 million in grant funding to initiate a wastewater project, which promises to provide an additional water source for turf irrigation in local schools, parks, and the Cedar Ridge Golf Course.
This funding marks the beginning of Phase 1 of the project, which involves upgrading the treated wastewater from Type 2 to Type 1 at the Cedar City Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility.
This process will make it safe for human contact while also suitable for irrigation purposes. Presently, this treated water is being discharged onto nearby farmland.
Funding for the project has been awarded through the Southern Utah Reuse Grant program, which is supported by the 2021 American Rescue Plan Act. The engineering department estimates that the total cost of the project will be approximately $5.4 million.
The urgency of the project stems from the alarming depletion of Cedar City’s aquifer, which has prompted warnings from the Utah Division of Water Rights.
If the city doesn’t alter its current water usage practices, it faces potential cuts to its water rights by 2035. By repurposing treated wastewater for irrigation, Cedar City hopes to reduce the strain on its aquifer.
Phase 1 of the project will focus on the wastewater treatment plant. Subsequent phases will include constructing a pump station, a pipeline to connect the plant to the city, and a winter storage facility for effluent water. The initial phase is expected to take about 10-12 months to complete.
The project is currently in the design stage, with the engineering firm Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services leading the effort.
Cedar City’s senior engineer, Jonathan Stathis, said that the drawings have already been submitted for review and the project is expected to go out for bid in early October.
The Cedar City Council approved an agreement with the Utah Division of Water Quality last Wednesday. The agreement comes nearly a year after an earlier version of the project was first considered.
The Central Iron County Water Conservancy District has also received $500,000 in grant funds for the project.
The division also made an additional $595,800 in funding available, with Cedar City and the Ash Creek Special Service District each receiving $297,900. This brings Cedar City’s total grant funding for the wastewater project to $2,151,900.
Initially, Cedar City applied for $10 million in grant funds. However, much of the available funding was allocated to projects in Washington County, leaving Cedar City with what Stathis described as a “small piece of the pie.”
Nearly $13 million in grant funds were awarded across Southern Utah included substantial allocations for other water projects, such as $5 Million for the Chief Toquer Reservoir near Toquerville and more than $2 million for the Dry Wash Reservoir located in Blanding. St. George’s Graveyard Wash Reservoir project also received nearly $2 million.
As part of the grant agreement, Cedar City is required to provide a 30% match for the project, totaling $580,286.
Stathis noted that the city is likely to exceed this contribution.Cedar City has also entered into a memorandum of understanding with Enoch and the Central Iron County Water Conservancy District, allowing them to share in the costs and benefits of the filtered effluent water.