TRSD breaks ground on treatment plant

A lot of people don't realize the impact a sewer system is going to have to benefit them and their neighbors ... A lot of these places are falling down: They need new roofs, they need other things, but we can't issue a building permit because they're on a cesspool.”

Gila County Supervisor Tim Humphrey, District 2

After years of anticipation, the Tri-City Regional Sanitary District broke ground on its proposed wastewater treatment plant last Monday, ushering in the first phase of a three-phase project that will provide a sewer system to serve the unincorporated areas between Globe and Miami.

“This would not have been possible without the hard work of many volunteer board members throughout the decade-plus history of the district,” says acting Board President Connie Callaway. “Getting shovels in the ground is the beginning of an important piece of infrastructure that will help address blight and will be an economic benefit to the region.”

The treatment plant — officially dubbed the Water Reclamation Facility or WRF — is being assembled in California, and delivery is expected in June.

Callaway says the plant should be operational by the end of the year, barring any unforeseen problems.

In the meantime, construction on other parts of the system has begun in various parts of the Phase I area, including installation of manholes and piping, surveying and testing, among other activities. The TRSD board will provide updates on where the work is happening, as well as quarterly reports that will be posted to the district’s website.

“We'll announce locations that are currently being worked on, anticipated locations, or if there's any traffic control situations,” Callaway says. “We have to do our due diligence and the USDA makes sure we are doing that. We have strict requirements.”

The district is also required to notify affected residents with door hangers and other means of communication.

The April 27 groundbreaking featured several past and present TRSD board members, elected officials — including Rep. Eli Crane, who has been a staunch ally in the Arizona legislature — as well as Lori Urban, state director for U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development, which is largely funding the project.

Also on hand was Gila County District 2 Supervisor Tim Humphrey, who has supported TRSD and its goals throughout his nine years in office.

While Gila County does not have jurisdiction over the project, Humphrey has been a vocal advocate for the district and its goal of creating needed infrastructure for an area adversely affected by blight, due in part to collapsing cesspools and septic systems. Cesspools were outlawed by the state in 1976, and those still functioning have been “grandfathered” in.

Humphrey sees recent developments as a boon to the community that has been a long time coming and will give abandoned properties new life in the future.

“A lot of people don't realize the impact a sewer system is going to have to benefit them and their neighbors,” Humphrey says. “A lot of these places are falling down: They need new roofs, they need other things, but we can't issue a building permit because they're on a cesspool. My platform was to address blight and infrastructure, so how could I turn a blind eye to this?”

He adds that, given the state of water in Arizona, treated wastewater, or effluent, will be “golden” and potentially increase the value of the project.

Humphrey says that it has been a “long haul” to get to the construction phase, due in part to opposition he says was brought about by “misinformation” generated within the community.

Despite years' of controversy, though, the project is finally underway. Two of the driving personalities of the project — Mary Anne Moreno and Bob Zache — were on hand at the groundbreaking for the project they have devoted decades of their lives to.

“We were all delighted they could attend,” Callaway says. “Infrastructure is a really good thing, because when there's no infrastructure, it can lead to blight, and then blight leads to no growth. So yes, it's a win.”

The first phase of the project will be funded through USDA Rural Development funding via a 60/40 grant/loan package, with residents paying about $12 million over a 40 year span. There will be no cost to homeowners to connect to the system, thanks to colonia funding through the USDA.

Additionally, the district has $5 million in grant funding to begin engineering Phase II of the project.

For information and project updates, go to trsdwastewater.org.