013 of 2019 - Water Reclamation Facility Upgrade R 19-1
R 19-9
RESOLUTION NO. 13 OF 2019
Supporting Water Reclamation Facility Upgrade
WHEREAS, the city's Public Utilities Department operates its Water Reclamation
Facility (WRF)that treats approximately 35 million gallons of wastewater per day and the
Department has been planning to upgrade and replace the WRF since 2015. The city operates the
WRF pursuant to its State issued UPDES Discharge Permit No. UT0021725.
WHEREAS, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ) adopted a new rule
that went into effect on January 1, 2016 (R317-3-3), limiting the amount of phosphorus permitted
to be discharged by wastewater treatment plants into State water bodies. The new rule specifies
compliance by January 1, 2020; however, the rule also allows for the Director of the UDEQ
Water Quality Division to permit a variance to the compliance date if due diligence is made
towards meeting the requirements of the rule;
WHEREAS, due to numerous issues associated with meeting the January 1, 2020
compliance date, including the age of the existing WRF, construction schedule, and procurement
of funding, the Public Utilities Department requested a variance on March 26, 2018, to extend
the compliance deadline. Conditional approval from UDEQ was received on May 29, 2018 to
extend the compliance deadline to January 1, 2025;
WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Department is currently designing the new WRF. The
design and construction costs have been planned within Public Utilities' budgets starting in fiscal
year 2018, and through 2025. This includes bond revenue and design costs in the proposed FY
2020 budget. Currently, the estimated cost for construction of the new WRF is $528,130,000,
with the construction to be phased over seven years with the objective of meeting the rule by
2024, one year ahead of the regulatory compliance deadline;
WHEREAS, UDEQ's approval of the variance requested by the Public Utilities
Department includes certain conditions for the extension of time for compliance under Rule 317-
3-3. One condition is that the City Council adopt a resolution supporting the pursuit of the WRF
upgrade to achieve the permitted biological phosphorus levels; and
WHEREAS, the Public Utilities Department has provided to the City Council with
adequate information for it to make an informed decision supporting the upgrade of the WRF
facility.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah, as
follows:
The City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah does hereby support the pursuit of the WRF
upgrade to achieve the selected biological phosphorus levels in order to comply with the
standards established for Salt Lake City under its UPDES Discharge Permit; such upgrade will
require the approximate budget of$528,130,000, which is subject to future appropriations of the
City Council.
Passed by the City Council of Salt Lake City,Utah, this 21st dayof May
2019.
SA L COUNCIL
CHA ERSON
ATTEST AND COUNTERSIGN:
,'Air i
CITY RECORDER
OR A'I'ti S�'Pv
Approved as to form:
Salt Lake City Attorney's Office
E. Russell Vette , Deputy City Attorney
Date: y y +f
HB_ATTY-#76249-v 1-Resolution_Supporting_WRF_Upgrade_319
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