Cottonwood City Council has green-lit execution of an agreement with APS to connect the new Riverfront Water Reclamation Facility to the new solar array into the power grid.
This approval “authorizes the city engineer and/or utility director to execute the agreement on behalf of the city,” according to city documents. The city will now be able to use the solar array to offset power used to treat wastewater.
The new facility has been officially up and running since early this year. The edifice is expected to produce 300,000 gallons of water per day, reclaiming 70 percent of Cottonwood’s wastewater. It is still in its beginning phase as it perfects the microbiology in water treatment, according to documents.
The process of water treatment begins with headworks taking in raw sewage from lift stations, which remove solid materials, such as towels and plastics in the first stage of water reclamation.During reclamation, the wastewater is treated through a biological process, and although not drinkable, it can be used for irrigation, viticulture, dust control and more.
The nearly $12.2 million project was funded by reserves the city had already set aside. Solar panels provide 85 percent of the complex’s power.“The use of this system is a key component of the city’s sustainable vision for its facilities and a viable cost-saving measure included as a part of this project,” according to city documents.
Kelcie Grega can be reached at 634-8551, or email kgrega@larsonnewspapers.com
