PUC approves remediation plan for former Willow Creek

Utilities Inc. of Central Nevada has come one step closer to gaining the necessary permissions to raise all sewer user rates in Pahrump after gaining Public Utility Commission approval on April 7 of remediation plans at the former Willow Creek Golf Course, now known as Discovery Park.

Utilities, Inc. President Wendy Barnett said at a public consumer session held on March 4 that the approval of the remediation plan was needed in order to make a formal request to raise sewer rates, to pay for the cost of the cleanup and improvement plan. It was estimated, at that time, that based upon the project cost of $680,000 that sewer customers could expect to see increases ranging from $3.40 for average residential customers to over $1,422 for commercial or industrial users.

The approved cleanup plan includes converting the existing overflow ponds to rapid infiltration basins.

The plan also includes removal of the pump houses to be replaced with new structures on the same foundation, the purchase of maintenance equipment and enhancements to the effluent filtration system.

Nye County Director of Planning Darrell Lacy said the company has additional work to do before they can obtain a needed building permit for the inclusive project. The county must approve a site development plan. A proposed plan, Lacy said, was sent from Nye County to Utilities, Inc. for corrections.

A conditional use permit from the county for the rapid infiltration basin’s construction is also required and no application has yet been received, he said.

Utilities, Inc. issued a press release Monday which indicates that removal of weeds, dead trees and other “hazards” should be concluded within the next month.

The press release further states that the entire project will be completed within six-months of groundbreaking, although that date is not known.

Barnett said in March that any rate increase would not be used to develop Discovery Park. Instead, she said, the company will rely on grants, donations and other sources of revenue for park improvements.