Sun Valley Water & Wastewater Project

Background Information

Research

Description of Alternatives

Evaluation of Alternatives

Final Design

Project Description

Photo of Northern Corner of Sun Valley Ranch, LLC (2014) 
Photo Credit: Sara Bateman

The Sun Valley Ranch is a proposed self-sufficient ranch in Sun Valley, Arizona. The ranch will be open May through October and will host visitors looking for a retreat in writing and art. The client plans to create a central dome house in the middle of the site. There will be four 16-ft diameter smaller dome houses adjoining the 32-ft diameter central dome house.
The client wants the average Arizona family to be able to incorporate similar water supply systems and wastewater systems. He has requested that the systems adhere to the following requirements:

• Non-intrusive: The systems should minimally impact the site’s current conditions, not cause permanent changes, or require extensive excavations.

• Scalable:The client anticipates that the retreat’s population will slowly grow in the future, and thus the water supply and wastewater systems must be easily expandable

• Support an average of 5-10 people: The client expects an average of 5-10 people to be staying at the retreat between May and October.

• Minimize cost: Both systems will ideally cost less than conventional systems, which typically include septic tanks and wells. This includes capital, construction, and maintenance costs

• Minimize maintenance:The client wants the system to be easy to use and maintain for the average American resident.

• Allow for easy startup and shutdown during the off-season months:Because the retreat will not be open year-round, it is important that both systems can go offline easily be returned to service.

• Follow sustainable practices: The client would prefer that the retreat is as self-sufficient as possible, and thus each system will limit the usage of energy and other components or materials that are obtained off-site. The systems will reuse and minimize water whenever possible.

The constraints and limitations of the project include verifying that the systems used meet Navajo County, state, and federal regulations. Also, the system must cost less than a conventional wastewater system (e.g. package plant). The WW system must meet the requirements set by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) and Navajo County for on-site wastewater treatment facilities. The potable water used for the water supply system will meet the requirements set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).