Literature:
Construction is now underway to expand the capacity of the Regional Treatment Facility from 12.5 to 18 million gallons per day (MGD). Bids were opened in January 2005 to expand the treatment plant to 14.5 MGD, and SSC Construction submitted the lowest responsive bid of $22.5 million. Construction began in May 2005, and is expected to be completed by October 2007. Bids were opened in December 2005 to further expand the plant to 18 MGD, and SSC Construction submitted the lowest responsive bid of $23.5 million. The Board approved a construction contract in February 2006, and construction is expected to be completed by mid-2008. RBF Consulting provided engineering services for the 14.5 MGD and the 18 MGD Expansion Projects, which are necessary to accommodate rapid growth in the area's population and higher than expected wastewater flows. The expansion will include four new primary clarifiers, four additional aeration basins, a second blower building, four new secondary clarifiers, two new anaerobic digesters, seven additional sludge drying beds, four additional percolation ponds, generator upgrades, a new septage receiving station, and miscellaneous improvements. The improvements will also prepare the plant to accommodate solids returned to the sewer from the proposed subregional treatment facilities (described below).
In August 2005 RBF Consulting completed a hydraulic model and GIS map of the regional interceptor sewer system, which identified areas where additional capacity was needed. In late 2005 design work began on Phases I & II to expand the capacity of the regional interceptor system, including two new pump stations and a directional drilled pipeline crossing under the Mojave River. A series of improvements to the interceptor sewer system will be necessary in order to convey increasing flows to the Regional Treatment Plant.
VVWRA
continued work on a study to develop subregional reclamation facilities, which
will provide wastewater treatment for the growing community, as well as high
quality reclaimed water for non-potable uses such as landscape irrigation. Initially
two subregional facilities will be constructed, one 4 MGD facility in Hesperia,
and a second 4 MGD facility in Apple Valley, which should be operational by
late 2009. The work is being performed by Boyle Engineering and Bauer Environmental.
Bauer Environmental prepared a programmatic Environmental Impact Report (CEQA)
for the subregional reclamation facilities, which was released for public comment
in August 2004. A Subregional Advisory Committee (SAC) was formed to distribute
information and solicit comments from interested parties. TRG and Associates
is providing a public outreach program to help educate the public and support
the development of subregional reclamation facilities. Using the subregional
reclamation facilities, VVWRA will wholesale recycled water to its member entities,
and the member entities will execute contracts to sell the recycled water to
both public and private water customers in the Victor Valley. Proceeds from
the sale of recycled water will be used to offset the monthly cost of wastewater
treatment. By 2020 the flow of wastewater from the service area is expected
to be 25.6 MGD, and by 2025 the flow is expected to be 32 MGD, a significant
increase from today's flow of 12.8 million gallons per day.
Revised
May 16, 2011