Upgrade of Wastewater System Essential Despite Surge in Population Growth

Lake Havasu City is witnessing an unexpected surge in population growth, prompting a review of its wastewater infrastructure. Recent projections indicate that improvements will allow the city’s system to adequately support its needs through 2040 and beyond.

City officials, collaborating with Jacobs Engineering, assessed the 2022 Wastewater Master Plan. This analysis was necessary due to higher-than-anticipated population estimates, which have led to an extension of the planning horizon. The city’s growth was forecasted at 0.7% annually, but it now appears closer to 1%.

The revised plan aims to enhance wastewater generation projects and upgrade the existing sewer system’s hydraulic model. A Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will also be developed, featuring projected expenditures of approximately $5 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year and around $11 million in the 2026-27 year.

Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau indicates a 3.7% population increase from April 2020 to July 2023. The updated wastewater plan reflects that this growth aligns closely with prior projections and does not necessitate major changes to the existing system.

Lake Havasu City’s wastewater infrastructure includes three treatment plants, 49 sewer lift stations, 49 miles of sewer force mains, and an extensive 350 miles of sewer gravity mains. The recent City Council meeting culminated in a unanimous vote to adopt the updated master plan after a detailed presentation from Mark Elliott of Jacobs Engineering.

The forecast suggests a population of 65,424 by 2040. The data indicate that the city’s wastewater treatment plant will operate at well under 75% capacity at that time, a crucial threshold that would trigger necessary expansions. Presently, operations are at approximately 50% of capacity.

In addressing long-term growth, the city remains cautious. The master plan includes provisions to defer or eliminate specific projects if growth does not meet expectations during the planning period.