During the early 1990s, the Town of Prescott Valley created a centralized wastewater collection and treatment system. The Town was able to construct and complete Phase 1 of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) component in 1993 (allowing for an initial capacity of 1.25 million gallons per day, MGD). The WWTP incorporated advanced biological treatment and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection to produce high-quality reclaimed water. In 1995, the Town completed Phase 2 (doubling the WWTP capacity to approximately 2.5 MGD). In 2007, a third expansion was completed allowing the WWTP capacity to increase to 3.75 MGD.

As the Town has grown, the capacity and infrastructure of the WWTP has required upgrades in order to provide proper wastewater treatment. Recently, Town staff has begun a Master Planning process intended to identify the next set of WWTP improvements that will be needed (e.g., increased capacity for both hydraulic and solid loadings).

As a path forward, the Town has contracted HDR to complete the WWTP Master Plan. Said Master Plan will provide a framework for addressing treatment capacity, needed improvements, space requirements/land acquisition, planning level cost estimates, and schedules. The Town and Jacobs (the WWTP operator) are working together to implement recommendations from an Aeration Study previously completed by Kimley Horn that could provide additional efficiencies to the WWTP process. Targeted evaluations and future studies will undoubtedly refine the recommendations of the Master Plan.

Town Staff and HDR will present initial findings and considerations as part of the WWTP Master Planning process for discussion by the Town Council.