The City of Prescott, Arizona, is advancing its long-term wastewater infrastructure centralization initiative through the Sundog Trunk Main Sewer Phase C3 Project. This critical capital improvement project supports the consolidation of wastewater treatment operations from the Sundog Wastewater Treatment Plant to the more modern and expandable Airport Water Reclamation Facility. It addresses capacity limitations, mitigates risk of sanitary sewer overflows highlighted by 2023 storm events that led to an ADEQ consent order, lowers long-term operations and maintenance costs, and enhances overall system reliability for current and future growth.

Strategic Importance

This phase is part of a multi-year, phased program to consolidate Prescott’s wastewater system. It directly supports the 2023 Water and Wastewater Models Master Plan by increasing conveyance capacity, eliminating bottlenecks from undersized or failing pipes, and enabling the eventual decommissioning of the Sundog plant. Benefits include improved environmental protection, enhanced public health and safety, and cost savings through more efficient operations.

Opportunity for Vendors

This is a significant public works project with substantial construction value. It offers experienced contractors and subcontractors in sewer force main installation, lift station construction, directional drilling or open-cut methods, pipeline rehabilitation, and utility work in urban/historic corridors an excellent opportunity to partner with the City of Prescott on a high-impact community infrastructure upgrade.

The Sundog Trunk Main Sewer Phase C3 Project is essential to The City of Prescott's centralization initiative consolidating treatment operations from the Sundog Wastewater Treatment Plant (SWTP) to the more modern and expandable Airport Water Reclamation Facility (AWRF). This multi-year program, adopted by a City Council resolution in 2015, aims to create a single, centralized facility combining SWTP’s 3 MGD and AWRF’s 4.75 MGD capabilities.

Phase C3 represents a critical component of this centralization effort. It builds on prior phases by enabling the redirection of flows from the downtown and surrounding areas to the Airport Water Reclamation Facility. Completion supports the eventual decommissioning of the Sundog plant, delivering significant long-term operational savings, improved system reliability, and enhanced environmental compliance.

This project is vital for several reasons:

Capacity and Growth: It addresses current and future wastewater capacity limitations identified in the 2023 Water and Wastewater Models Master Plan, supporting Prescott’s development and existing population needs.

Environmental Protection and Regulatory Compliance: Storms in early 2023 caused sewer surges leading to an Arizona Department of Environmental Quality notice of violation and consent order. Centralization projects like C3 increase surge capacity and mitigate overflow risks.

Infrastructure Renewal: It replaces or augments aging, undersized, or failing infrastructure lowering maintenance costs and minimizing sanitary sewer overflows.

Community and Economic Benefits: Reliable wastewater service protects public health, supports tourism and local businesses, and enables redevelopment of the Sundog site for other public uses.

Vendors who deliver high-quality work on this project will directly contribute to Prescott’s resilience, environmental stewardship, and fiscal responsibility.