Proposed Lower Silver Creek Sewer Project Summit County, Utah Richard Bullough, PhD

Project Summary Request for grant funding to make sewer expansion into lower Silver Creek neighborhood financially feasible Proposed project area identified in two TMDLs, Summit County study, and Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation study as critical area for nutrient reduction through sewer expansion The proposed project will result in an immediate improvement of water quality, and will allow for future water quality improvement through sewer expansion to upper Silver Creek

Proposed Project Area High-density mixed use area in lower Silver Creek. Consists of businesses, homes, and undeveloped commercial and residential lots Straddles two tributaries of the Weber River, East Canyon Creek and Silver Creek Area identified in two separate TMDLs as priority for nutrient reduction due to septic systems Critical “hub” allowing for sewer expansion to entire Silver Creek drainage

Why is the Project Needed Served by aging, poorly functioning septic systems Lower area of Silver Creek is mixed-use, high-density, and high-demand, with known septic failure Identified as priority area in two separate TMDLs Two additional studies (SBWRD, SCHD) indicate septic systems are contributing to pollutants in the streams Extending sewer to lower Silver Creek will immediately reduce nutrient load into the watershed and will further allow for future sewer expansion to upper Silver Creek

Silver Creek and TMDL East Canyon Creek and Reservoir TMDL (2010) and Rockport and Echo TMDL (2014) identify this neighborhood as a priority nutrient load reduction area based on septic contributions. Poor soils, high ground water, aging systems Both TMDLs recommend long-term phosphorus load reduction from septic systems, and the Echo TMDL also identifies nitrogen reduction. Nitrogen reduction can only be achieved through sewering

Progress and commitment to Date Sewer required in new subdivisions in the area (Woodside) Upsizing of lines by SBWRD to proposed project area (over $400,000 committed) Public meetings with owners and Summit County Council Exploration of bonding and Summit County financing Summit County agreement to finance project Signed waivers from over half of property owners Engineered plans for proposed project complete Bids for proposed project received

SBWRD Contributions to Date

Why the Grant Request? At time of initial public meetings, estimated cost approximately $600,000. Actual bid cost over $1,000,000 Repayment cost per property owner, over 20 years, is prohibitively expensive, making the project not feasible at current bid Without the proposed project, TMDL and water quality will not be addressed, and extending sewer further into the drainage is impossible