Ashton wastewater project could cost $5 million

Ashton engineers will outline the findings of a wastewater facility study in a town hall meeting Wednesday night. City officials said the price tag could approach $5 million.

A discharge permit, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2014, established lower ammonia limits than the current treatment system can meet.

Engineers have considered several alternatives. One includes piping the discharge straight into the river. Another would involve snowmaking to disperse the effluent. That approach is similar to a Fremont County project being used in Island Park.

Direct discharge was eliminated because of the cost of the piping and potential environmental impacts.

The snowmaking option would require installation of equipment that would likely result in maintenance problems and higher operating costs during the winter months.

A third option would store water during the winter for re-use during the summer. It would require a new, larger pond to be constructed to hold the water through the winter, then use it in farming operations during the summer. It would also eliminate the need for an EPA discharge permit.

The study also found several sections of sewer pipe that needs to be replaced.

It also reviewed a possible rate structure to repay the cost of a loan to pay for the work, and Ashton officials said that could raise monthly wastewater bills.

The town hall meeting was set for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Ashton City Building.