COUNTY NEWS

Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has announced that it will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 21 via the Zoom platform. The hearing is to review and collect public comment on the proposed construction of a water resource recovery facility to replace the existing White Rock wastewater treatment plant.  Department officials ask interested parties to visit the website and preregister at https://ladpu.com/WR-WRRF.

The existing White Rock wastewater treatment plant has been in service since the mid-1960s using older trickling filter technology and has aged mechanical and pumping systems. DPU plans to replace this plant with a water resource recovery facility that uses an oxidation ditch, clarifiers, tertiary filters and ultraviolet disinfection to greatly improve the quality of the reclaimed wastewater.  The resulting higher quality reclaimed wastewater can be used for unrestricted irrigation purposes in compliance with current and foreseeable future regulatory requirements.

The $17 million project is funded through a low-interest loan approved through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan program. In 2019 the Board of Public Utilities and the County Council approved sewer rate increases to ensure adequate revenue to repay this loan.  The new water resource recovery facility is expected to be completed and placed into operation by June 2022.

To join the Jan. 21 public hearing at 5:30 p.m. visit the website and preregister at https://ladpu.com/WR-WRRF.  Questions may be directed to the DPU at (505) 662-8333 or CustomerCare@lacnm.us.