What is HVSSD
The Heber Valley Special Service District (HVSSD), aka "the ponds," is the regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, which receives and processes wastewater from Heber City, Midway City, and portions of Wasatch County.
HVSSD was created in the late 1970's to treat area wastewater and to help clean up the waters of the Provo River Watershed and Deer Creek Reservoir from the Valley’s growing use of septic tanks.
How Do We Process Waste
HVSSD uses aerated lagoons and mechanical type operations to treat wastewater.
This water, once cleaned, is then disposed of on the nearly 500-acre hay farm located west of the airport which recharges the aquifer underneath us (i.e., ground water). This process has proven to be very reliable, effective, and less expensive — leading to improved water quality in the region.
Hay that is grown in the hay farm and watered by the treated wastewater further absorbs leftover nutrients and is harvested several times per year. It is auctioned off to area farmers. Proceeds from the sale of the hay are used to further offset wastewater treatment costs and help to keep user fees as low as possible.
The farm soils are also capable of stabilizing wastewater contaminants like pharmaceuticals, hormones, and endocrine disruptors in wastewater.
- SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST:
- HVSSD assessment has always been included in the sewer portion of your utility bill. This has now been separated and is a new line item to show where your money goes and what it is used for.
- HVSSD bills Heber City and Midway Sanitation District for wastewater, The end user is then billed by Heber City and Midway Sanitation Disrticts.
- Heber City and Midway Sanitation District are now listing HVSSD costs as a separate line item on their bills to the end user.
- HVSSD recently increased user fees for the first time in over 25 years.
- All expansion costs are paid for by impact fees to new users and not current users.
- HVSSD maintains nearly 800 acres of open space in the valley.
- HVSSD does not discharge any of its treated water into the Provo River.
- HVSSD is managed by local elected officials. `
- For more information or to schedule a tour, Call Dennis @ (435) 901-2257 or email dgunn@hvssd.org.
How HVSSD Is Governed
HVSSD a special service district, operated by a trained staff and managed by elected officials who make up the board. This board consists of the mayors of Heber HVSSD City, Midway and Charleston, two city councilors from Heber City, the chair of Midway Sanitation District and one member of the Wasatch County Council. The District general manager is Dennis Gunn.
Who Pays and How
HVSSD measures, records and bills Heber City and Midway Sanitation District for the wastewater that comes into the facility. Heber City and the Midway Sanitation District then pass these costs on to each connection (home, business, etc.) that is a part of the overall wastewater system. Heber City lists HVSSD costs separately in their water bill. The Midway Sanitation District does not list HVSSD costs as a separate line item on its monthly bills.
Why the Increase
After a very thorough analysis of the district's finances, it was determined that in order to remain financially viable and sustainable, a change in user fees was required. This has not been done for over 25 years. This change was then implemented by the Administrative Control Board in October 2021 to go into effect on July 1, 2022.