Vacuum Sewer Installation in Hooper, Utah

A groundwater study revealed significant amounts of “gray water” and sewage going untreated, contaminating groundwater and local waterways in and around Hooper, Utah. In order to comply with the EPA's Storm Water Management Program and to protect the natural resources and health of the community, the City acted to significantly reduce the contamination of groundwater, waterways and the Great Salt Lake. The fast-growing city chose to eliminate septic systems as a means of sewage treatment by combining a “patchwork” of small gravity collection systems and lift stations into a single, modern, fully-contained, affordable vacuum system. Because of Hooper's topographic and geographic situation, a central gravity sewer would be expensive, disruptive and time-consuming to install. After considerable study and professional consultation, Hooper officials elected to install a vacuum sewer system, completed in 2007. Currently, three vacuum stations create vacuum pressure for 22.8 miles of vacuum mains, ultimately serving more than 900 connections.