SEN. REID NEWS
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Nevada Senator Harry Reid today on Earth Day announced that USDA Rural Development has approved a loan of $3,002,000 and a grant of $2,312,794 to replace the wastewater treatment plant that serves the Virginia City and Gold Hill communities in Storey County. The existing plant is past its useful life.
“This wastewater treatment facility is in need of an upgrade and the proposed plans will strengthen the preserve the local environment,” said Reid. “Virginia City and Gold Hill have contributed significantly to our state’s rich history and I am pleased that Storey County will have resources to improve this critical piece of infrastructure to ensure these communities thrive in years to come.”
According to USDA, the original sewage treatment ponds were constructed in the early 1970’s, and in 1982 the County installed an extended aeration basin type treatment plant. The pond now functions as a primary clarifier for higher influent flows and as an equalization basin to the treatment plant. The plant sometimes exceeds its discharge permit, and instances have occurred when flows have had to be diverted directly to the plant for treatment, bypassing the normal operation through the pond.
A ravine west of the pond has occasionally conveyed storm water into the pond, flooding the treatment facilities during rapid snow melt. The construction of the new activated sludge wastewater treatment package plant will bring the system into compliance with its discharge permit; it will eliminate the flood events; and potential contamination of the historic Six Mile Canyon is no longer a threat.
