City Temporarily Not Accepting New Land Use Applications with New Sewer Connections

The City of Sandy is temporarily not accepting new land use applications that propose new sewer connections, to give sewer system improvements time to catch up with the community’s growth and aging infrastructure.

This decision by the City Council will help Sandy avoid permit violations and comply with environmental regulations that protect local watersheds.  The City is taking this action consistent with a negotiated Consent Decree related to enforcement proceedings under the Clean Water Act. 

The City of Sandy initially adopted this temporary moratorium on October 3, 2022.  The term was extended on March 20, 2023, and the moratorium was replaced with loosened terms by Resolution 2023-27 adopted on June 20, 2023, after the acceptance of the Consent Decree. On November 20, 2023, the City Council adopted Resolution 2023-34, extending the moratorium to June 20, 2024. The City has completed the stress tests of the sanitary sewer treatment plant and EPA/DEQ is now analyzing the results that were submitted by the City. City staff anticipates that review of the analysis and subsequent meetings with EPA/DEQ will take several months. Results of the stress tests are anticipated to be released to the public in the next several months. 

During the moratorium period, the City will limit any new flows to the sanitary sewer system to 300 equivalent residential units (ERUs).  An ERU is the equivalent of a single family dwelling.  As system improvements continue and as additional capacity becomes quantified, the City will work with regulators to adjust the connection limit consistent with demonstrated capacity. 

Background

Sandy’s wastewater system has serious and long-standing challenges. For years, the City’s wastewater treatment plant has not been able to consistently treat the high volume of sewage and stormwater that flows to the plant, especially during wet weather. This leads to permit violations and intermittent pollution of Tickle Creek.

The City has been working diligently to resolve these problems under a program called Sandy Clean Waters, investing millions of dollars to upgrade wastewater collection pipes and treatment facilities.  Improvements completed thus far are having their intended effect, but more work is needed.

The decision by the City to stop accepting new land use applications that propose new sewer connections does not affect land use applications received before October 3, 2022 when the City Council adopted Resolution 2022-24.

More information on Sandy Clean Waters is available here.

Click here to view the number of Equivalent Residential Units (ERUs) currently available.