Farmington outlines water security plan with WTP1 upgrades and AMI rollout

Public Works leadership presented a comprehensive update on the City’s water-security strategy and capital projects at the Farmington City Council meeting, outlining near-term work at Water Treatment Plant #1 and a citywide meter modernization effort. Angelique Maldonado presented a detailed update on the City’s “Sustainable Solution” for water management, the council record shows.

The presentation reported progress on the $29.6 million Phase 1 upgrades at WTP#1, with officials saying the work is “estimated for completion by July 11, 2026.” Recent milestones listed in the briefing include: “Commissioning the new Backwash Recovery Basin,” “Fully commissioning the East Filter Gallery,” and “Completing a major electrical overhaul, including new switchgear.”

Phase 2 of the WTP#1 upgrade is slated to start in the summer of 2026, the presentation said. “Phase 2 of the WTP#1 upgrade is estimated to start in the summer of 2026. This phase will feature a new 2,100‑square‑foot chemical building to house advanced treatment systems,” the materials state, identifying the chemical building as the core of the next construction phase.

On distribution-side modernization, the council heard that the city will begin an Advanced Metering Infrastructure project. The briefing described the initiative as “Modernizing Water Infrastructure: A new initiative to reduce water loss will begin with an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project, designed to upgrade 16,000 water meters with smart technology and leak detection.” The presentation links the AMI to goals to reduce water loss, “enhance operational efficiency, promote sustainability, and provide customers with new, in‑depth data regarding their daily water consumption.”

Officials also launched a community outreach component during the briefing. The package included a “New Water Efficiency Campaign: The City also officially announced the launch of its new Water Efficiency initiative to promote a culture of stewardship.” The city emphasized outdoor irrigation as the primary target, noting that “Approximately 70–75% of residential water use in Farmington occurs outdoors, primarily for landscape irrigation. The City will have educational outreach at upcoming events as well as presentations in Elementary schools throughout the city.”

The council packet and public excerpts incorporate earlier conservation planning material. Conservewater Utah language appearing in the record urges improved metering and a system audit: “Goal 4: Develop a Plan for Monitoring Culinary Water Usage and Waste Farmington City desires to investigate more thoroughly exactly where the culinary water is going. By improving the current metering system, a system wide water audit can be performed. The water audit will compare total metered flow into the system with total metered flow delivered to customers. This will then verify the system integrity and help to identify major leaks or [...] to aide the City in more clearly evaluating the success in achieving its goals since 2000 and adjusting and re‑setting goals for the future with respect to water conservation.”

The presentation also referenced proposals related to Lake Farmington, including truncated language in the packet about “proposals to raise Lake Farmington’s spillway and a city‑wid,” a phrase left incomplete in the briefing materials. With Phase 1 completion targeted July 11, 2026, Phase 2 starting in summer 2026 and the AMI program set to begin, the city’s next steps will center on completing WTP#1 work, launching meter installation, and rolling out school and community education events.