OREM -- Even in the midst of stagnant economy, Orem officials say the city has no other option but to move forward with plans for a $12 million expansion of its wastewater reclamation facility.

Chris Tschirki, the city's water resources division manager, said the driving force behind the expansion is not that the plant's hydraulic capacity is maximized, but that its capacity "to treat the biological loading that's coming" has reached its limit.

Tschirki said Orem's plant has the hydraulic capacity to process 12.3 million gallons of wastewater per day, and has been receiving 8 to 8.5 million gallons per day, or about 70 percent of capacity. The challenge has come as the facility has reached capacity in treating 20,800 pounds of biological oxygen demand solids per day. Part of the wastewater treatment process requires that organic solids be removed from the wastewater, treated and disposed of, according to Orem's Web site. The organic solids are also called bio solids.

"We are basically able to handle 20,800 pounds a day, and we've been hitting that regularly the past year," Tschirki said. "That's the main reason we are expanding the plant."

Orem has a Utah Pollution Discharge Eliminate System permit that allows it to discharge treated water into the Powell Slough area of Utah Lake. With the plant's organic loading capacity so tight, it has become increasingly difficult for facility operators to maintain the flexibility they need to manage large inflows and meet permit requirements, Tschirki said.

For the past two years, Orem has been putting together a facility plan with Aqua Engineering, Inc., evaluating different plant expansion possibilities. The plan was completed in March, and has been submitted to the State Division of Water Quality.

On April 1, Orem was one of about 25 applicants from throughout the state to present projects to the DWQ for funding. Just under $20 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 stimulus money is available, Tschirki said. "Green" projects that use energy efficiently, increase the quality of bio solids, and improve water quality are given preference under ARRA guidelines.

The city's proposal to the DWQ includes a request for a construction loan of $11,889,000 that would be payable over 20 years with no interest, he said. The loan would be secured by a revenue bond. Another $673,000 is needed for a design advance that was approved by the Orem City Council earlier this month. The city will contribute $200,000 toward the project design.

The council will wait to approve the overall project until after city officials know how much funding Orem will get from the ARRA money and the rest of the funding sources for the expansion. The state will announce who gets what portion of the $20 million pie this fall, Tschirki said.

Projects have to be "shovel-ready" by February of 2010. He estimated it would take 18 months to two years to build the improvements.

Tschirki said he thinks Orem has "a really good chance" of receiving funding, being first on one project priority list, and fifth on the ARRA funding list. Also enhancing the city's chances, he believes, is the fact that Orem is voluntarily pursuing programs to reduce phosphorous and nitrogen concentrations and to increase bio solids quality.

"These are very critical water quality concerns -- not just for Orem, but in the region," Tschirki said.

He estimated the cost increase for sewer connections as the result of the expansion could be about $2 per month, and said there may also be cost participation by Lindon and Vineyard, based on agreements Orem has for the facility to serve the wastewater needs of those communities.

Lawrence Burton, section manager of Orem's water reclamation facility, is a proponent of the plan to expand the facility.

"I'm excited about the operations upgrade and the modern technology that will be used," he said.

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