The City Council has unanimously accepted a plan to install a citywide secondary water system, with construction to begin as early as next spring.
The Davis and Weber Canal Co. has been authorized to provide the approximately $6 million system. This nonprofit company, which also serves neighboring West Point, hopes to secure a loan through the State Water Board for the multi-year project.Phase one would include the newest residential housing developments in the city. The second phase will center on other new areas of the city and would follow in 1998. The final phase would be the area east of 1000 West, near the Sunset border.
All residents will be required to hook up to the system when lines are installed in their neighborhood.
According to City Manager Dennis Cluff, the costs for installation and service will vary according to lot size. Homes on lots smaller than a half-acre would be charged $200 for hookup and $200 a year for unlimited water. The annual charge would be spread over a 12-month period.
Lots between a half-acre and an acre in size would be charged $300 for hookup and $300 a year, while the costs for larger lots would be negotiated with the canal company.
"It's a pretty good deal," Cluff said, explaining Clinton residents will be charged exactly the same fees West Point residents have been paying for the past three years. Water will come from the same Sunset reservoir, east of Main Street at 1300 North.
Cluff believes the secondary system will save the city money because it will delay the need for future culinary water expansion.
"It will lessen the excess usage of culinary water," he said.
He said that means Clinton can delay by up to 12 years having to build a new multi-million dollar water reservoir as well as purchasing more drinking water from Weber Basin Water Conservancy District.
"It keeps the cost down," Cluff said.
The City Council held several public hearings prior to making a decision on secondary water. Response was mostly positive.
In contrast, the Layton City Council decided against secondary water last year because of the high initial costs involved.