On Jan. 14, the South Salt Lake City Council adopted an updated wastewater collection system master plan, a comprehensive strategy designed to maintain and modernize the city’s sewer systems over the next decade.

The plan was developed by the engineering firm Hansen, Allen & Luce, Inc. following months of evaluation. It covers the city's existing infrastructure, including its three lift stations. By identifying where the system is most vulnerable, the city can prioritize repairs before they become emergency failures, Jacob Hansen, the city’s wastewater supervisor, told the council.

The heart of the new master plan is an infiltration study conducted in 2021, which analyzed how much "clear water"—such as groundwater or stormwater—is leaking into the sewer pipes. Hanson noted that excess infiltration can strain the system and increase treatment costs.

The master plan also forecasts a 20-year growth period and identifies projects needed to maintain capacity through the buildout phase to ensure the system can support upcoming development. It outlines a timeline for these improvements and identifies four major projects. 

The five-year plan addresses high-risk areas, focusing on urgent repairs and mitigating what is known as "infiltration and inflow," where groundwater leaks into old, cracked pipes.

The first project, a sewer main rehabilitation, would replace the lining of approximately 2,500 to 3,000 linear feet of aging concrete pipes in the northern sector of the city. Rather than digging up roads for a full replacement, the city would use cured-in-place pipe liners. The consultants and city staff the city weighed the benefits of these "liners"—a process where a new pipe is essentially created inside an old one—versus full pipe replacement, Hanson told the council.

"We discussed the pricing differences [which are] significant [between] the two," he said. Lining currently costs roughly $75 per linear foot, whereas traditional excavation can be as much as $450 per linear foot. Choosing the liners could save as much as 40-60% overall, Hanson said.

A second proposed project would replace outdated pumps and update the control systems at the city’s primary lift station, ensuring the system doesn't fail during peak flows or power outages.

Additionally, the 10-year plan aims to improve long-term capacity and maintenance. These proposed projects include upsizing existing sewer mains to accommodate Transit Oriented Development areas near the TRAX lines. A final project would reconfigure the flow of certain neighborhood lines to move waste more efficiently toward the regional treatment facility.

The new plan was approved unanimously by the city council that evening.