The city of Santaquin is taking an important step toward improving the city's wastewater treatment facility.

Dan Adams, director of Langdon Group Inc., said the consulting firm is working with Santaquin and its residents to create public involvement in improving the facility. Adams said the treatment center has almost reached its capacity, and it is important to involve residents in the decision to build a new facility.

"It's an inclusive process right from the get-go," he said.

Getting ideas and opinions early on helps to avoid fighting and litigation later, because concerned residents have somewhere to go to have their voices heard. Adams said the idea is to get input from people from every walk of life, rather than just those who deal with wastewater or city issues daily.

"A lot of times in projects like this you kind of hear from the extremes," he said.

David Thurgood, project manager with JUB Engineers, said the city is growing rapidly, and a new facility must be built to accommodate extra waste. The current growth rate of the city is 15-20 percent, while an average rate is closer to 3 percent.

"What we have now is a lagoon system, and the lagoon system was designed for a population of 4,000," he said. "The current population is around 7,600."

Increased aeration, additional holding ponds and a new pump station have helped to increase the facility's capacity, but the solution won't work forever. A lagoon system is no longer feasible with the growth and size of Santaquin, Thurgood said.

There are several options for a new facility, and Thurgood said public hearings will be held to determine which choice is best. Costs for four different types of facilities range from $21 million to $35.5 million, a bond for which residents may help pay.

Thurgood said it is also important to build a new treatment center because a lagoon system uses more land than other types, and land is becoming a hot commodity in the growing town. Different mechanical treatment options use between 5 and 25 acres of land, while the lagoon system uses 30 acres or more.

Stefan Chatwin, Santaquin city manager, said the city wants to have plenty of help from the community in making a decision about the treatment facility. In addition to public hearings, the city will form an advisory committee composed of community members, business owners and farmers to get input from a variety of residents.

"We had an interest in ensuring that we did get as much information and disseminate as much information as possible," Chatwin said.

Chatwin said officials did not want to just make a decision and force it on the community. The City Council can make a more informed decision when the public is involved.

"You can't be passive when you get public feedback," he said. "You can't just sit back and wait for the public to come to you or you're going to miss a lot."