North Water Treatment Plant Replacement

under planning

The Town of Gilbert plans to replace its existing North Water Treatment Plant in order to meet drinking water quality standards. Gilbert buys surface water from the Salt River Project which is treated at the plant. The quality of the water, which comes from the Salt and Verde Rivers, is inconsistent. The Salt River has high disinfection by-product formation potential and water clarity issues while the Verde River has elevated arsenic and challenges with its color. Due to recent catastrophic wildfires, droughts and intense wet-dry cycles, normal seasonal changes in water quality now occur weekly and even daily. After a wildfire, runoff from fire-scarred areas drains into SRP’s reservoirs, bringing ash and debris. The new treatment plant will have a capacity of 60 million gallons per day.