$375K pipe upgrade approved by Apache Junction sewer district board
Arianna Grainey
The Apache Junction Sewer District is an independent, public, nonprofit entity developed solely for the benefit of its customers and the Apache Junction community to operate and maintain a regional system for the collection, transport and treatment of sewage from the properties existing within its boundaries.
The system that provides nonpotable water to a treatment facility at the Apache Junction Sewer District is in need of refurbishment and is getting an upgrade.
The sewer district board voted unanimously Aug. 26 to authorize and approve the installation of improvements for Phase 2 of the water reclamation facility’s nonpotable water system at a cost not to exceed $375,000 to be paid from the capital and replacement fund.
“It boosts the size. Right now it’s about 2 inches for the existing (pipe) and goes up to 6 inches, and it will provide water for the future screw press as well,” District Manager Darron Anglin said prior to the vote. “The screw press will be installed at the existing biosolids process on the east side of the plant as part of the expansion, but it needs water.”
The board previously approved $300,000 for the completion of Phase 1 improvements in fiscal year 2025, according to a staff memo from Anglin and District Engineer Anne Latimer.
The new screw press is being installed in the biosolids processing area south of sand drying beds. The screw press will allow the district to mechanically process solids as flows increase to provide sufficient drying for increased biosolids production, they said in the memo.
“Due to the location of the new screw press and its proximity to the existing (nonpotable water) system, it was determined that the current onsite (nonpotable water) system will be utilized to provide needed process water to the new screw press... The combined demands of the screw press and other plant components have exceeded the existing (nonpotable water) system’s capacity,” it states.
The district contracted with a local engineering firm to assess the demand and appropriately size the pumps and piping.
“The engineer’s design includes increasing pipe sizes from the existing 2 inches to 6 inches and adding an additional pump and pressure tank to the system. These upgrades will allow the existing treatment facility to operate more efficiently, especially with the addition of the new biosolids screw press,” it states in the memo.
Sewer district
The sewer district is an independent, public, nonprofit entity developed solely for the benefit of its customers and the Apache Junction community to operate and maintain a regional system for the collection, transport and treatment of sewage from the properties existing within its boundaries.
Board members to the sewer district are appointed by the Apache Junction City Council.
Members of the district board serve as volunteers who are responsible for setting policy and rates, adopting a budget and other high-level decision-making regarding all aspects of the district’s operation and on-going business affairs.
By state law, board members cannot own 40 acres in the district, cannot be an employee or agent of a landowner who owns 40 acres or more in the district, cannot be an employee of the city or the county and cannot be an elected official of the city or county.
The board’s next meeting is 8 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, in the district board room, 5661 S. Ironwood Drive in Apache Junction. The agenda will be posted at https://ajsewer.org/boardmeetings.
Richard H. Dyer can be reached at rdyer@iniusa.org, or on X @rhdyer. To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
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