Provo is facing a serious problem that’s been backing up for years. Our current wastewater treatment facility was built way back in the 1950s, and it saw its last major upgrade in 1978—over 40 years ago!
The structure is far from being earthquake safe, and doesn’t comply with new state regulations on clean water. Utah’s Division of Water Quality is starting to lower the restriction on the amount of phosphorus that can legally be discharged into Utah Lake. A few years from now, we could incur fines as high as $100,000 per day if we’re not in compliance.
Doing nothing is simply not an option. That's why the solution is to build a new wastewater treatment plant. Thanks to a deal struck with the state, Provo will be receiving a $78 million loan from the state of Utah at only 0.5% interest. Unfortunately, this will mean increases in sewer bills—from $48 to $85 per month by 2023.
As painful as rate increases are, it’s still the cheapest and best option, compared to the alternatives of bonding at 3.5% interest, fronting the entire cost ourselves by quadrupling the rates later, or facing those exorbitant state fines down the road.
Please see the video below for more details.