On Tuesday, October 10th at 5:30PM, before the Verde Village General Meeting, important updates will be presented on the Wastewater Feasibility Study.
This is a planning level study to evaluate potential alternatives for the Verde Village community since it has high-density septic systems. It considers the potential impacts to the Verde River and groundwater.
This is another opportunity for Verde Village community members to provide feedback and input during the design phase.
In addition, anyone may review project documents and stay up to date at vvpoa.net/sewer.
The Wastewater Feasibility Study is being funded by a $200,000 grant as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which was encouraged by Supervisor Donna Michaels and the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.
Then at 7 PM the Verde Village October General meeting commences. Both meetings will be held at the VVCC Community Center at 4855 E Broken Saddle Dr in Cottonwood.
In an effort for the Verde Village to better understand wastewater treatment options specific to the challenges and opportunities available, it is nearly complete with a sewer feasibility study.
HDR Engineering was hired by the Verde Village Property Owners’ Association (VVPOA) to conduct a Sewer Feasibility Study for the Verde Village. This is a planning level study to evaluate potential alternatives for wastewater collection, treatment, and reuse. This Study is being funded by a $200,000 grant as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA), which was encouraged by Supervisor Donna Michaels and the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors. Verde Village residents themselves pay nothing for this study to be done, yet gain a wealth of expertise in understanding water flows from the 4,400 dwellings in the Verde Village and the options and opportunities to connect with existing treatment plants in Cottonwood or Yavapai-Apache Nation or build its own.
The importance of looking at wastewater treatment in the Verde Village is that this is an older development with extremely high septic densities within an area of very shallow ground water situated adjacent to the Verde River. As has been observed within other communities within Arizona and around the nation that have similar circumstances, these systems pose health risks to humans, the environment, groundwater and river system.
This proposed study will assist the VVCC in its discussion and options regarding sewering the community today or in the future.
The good news is that the whole situation is currently being studied by HDR Engineering and Verde Village residents are being provided with useful information in order to help decide future steps. From projected flows to collection systems to treatment systems, they are presenting alternatives. What is exciting is the review of beneficial reuse alternatives from providing water to the pond to creating a wetland area to recharging the groundwater. And what is uppermost on most peoples’ minds is how much it is going to cost. The study includes probable costs as well as an overview of funding opportunities.
HDR Engineering will be presenting at the workshop on Tuesday, October 10th at 5:30 PM for Verde Village community members to hear all about it and provide input during this design phase. For more background, project documents and a recording of the February meeting are available at vvpoa.net/sewer. A final report is expected to be delivered by HDR in December. From there, Verde Village residents can see what might be feasible, especially in a climate of federal funding availability for infrastructure projects.
Then at 7 PM the Verde Village October General Meeting commences. Both meetings will be held at the VVCC Community Center at 4855 E Broken Saddle Dr in Cottonwood.