Water District Breaks Ground for New Water Treatment Plant

The Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy plans on having the Point of the Mountain Water Treatment Plant online in 2007.

June 12, 2003

Ground breaking ceremony left to right: Metro Chair Fred Moreton, Metro GM John Carman, Sen.Waddoups, Councilman Carlton Christensen, Mayor Tom Dolan, Mayor Darrell Smith and Sen. Al Mansell
Draper City Mayor Darrell Smith reminisced that for generations of those who grew up in the Draper area, the 106-acre plot of ground that the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake & Sandy (Metro) is now building a new water treatment plant on was a favorite playground.  Kids played in the fields and many residents rode their horses along the bench from Corner Canyon to the Point of the Mountain.  It was part of rural Salt Lake County in Mayor Smith’s memories that now accommodates hang glider landings and creeping development. After several years of dispute over siting the treatment plant in Draper, Mayor Smith noted, “Now that the decision has been made, I’m excited. We have to realize that things change and the plant will be part of the community – let’s move on.” 

A bill filed in the 2003 Legislature helped resolve the dispute between Metro and Draper City leading to an agreement between the district and city to allow for the construction of the water treatment plant at the Draper site located at 15000 South 155 West. Concessions were made on both sides to reach the accord.

According to Metro G.M. John Carman, the first phase of construction will build a 70 million gallon per day capacity conventional water treatment plant at a cost of $135 million. Ultimately the plant could be enlarged to over 200 million gallons per day. Strategically located, the new plant will connect Metro’s existing Little Cottonwood Water Treatment Plant located in eastern Salt Lake County and the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District’s Bluffdale Water Treatment Plant located on the west side of the valley.  This interconnection redundancy will allow for the conjunctive distribution of water valley wide.

Sandy City Mayor Tom Dolan told the nearly 100 assembled well wishers and water officials that the water plant was necessary for the valley’s water supply. “It’s a win for everybody,” said Mayor Dolan.

Salt Lake City Council Chairperson Carlton Christensen said, “This is a momentous occasion – except for Little Dell Reservoir, all of our water facilities were constructed before I was born.”

Utah Senate Majority Leader Michael Waddoups said the legislation he introduced in the legislature was one of the most important bills he introduced. He noted that he was pleased that the bill did not pass, alluding to the fact that the parties came to an agreement without legislative intervention.