“Ever wondered what it takes to keep a mountain town running smoothly?” I ask. This is the story of Brighton Drain.
Brighton Drain is part of the unsung infrastructure that supports this beautiful canyon community. It is essential but often overlooked.
To fully appreciate Brighton Drain, we need to understand the utilities that serve Brighton. Electricity is provided by Rocky Mountain Power. Natural gas comes from Dominion Energy. For waste and recycling, Wasatch Front Waste steps in.
But what about the water and sewer systems? Big Cottonwood Canyon is the largest watershed area for the Salt Lake Valley. It provides about 18% of the valley’s water supply. Sparkling mountain water reaches home faucets in 24 hours. There is no intermediate storage reservoir. The snow provides water storage. About 500 inches each year yields 27 inches of water. Big Cottonwood provides some of the cleanest water in the area.
All water is sold wholesale. It goes to 17 private water companies in the canyon by the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities. Those companies manage the delivery infrastructure. They conduct monthly testing and maintenance of their water systems.
What about waste water? Sewer service is furnished by the Big Cottonwood Canyon Improvement District or BCCID. The BCCID is located on Brighton Loop Road.
In 1982, the Salt Lake County Commission formed the Solitude Improvement District. This was to design build and operate a sewer system. Funding was approved in 1989 by the Utah Water Pollution Control Committee. Two bonds were issued in 1995 to begin construction.
Series 1995A Sewer Revenue Refunding Bond was issued for over two and a half million dollars. Series 1995B Sewer Revenue Refunding Bond was issued for almost two and a half million dollars. The refunding bonds bear no interest and repayment has been on schedule.
The sewer consists of a 10-inch diameter outfall sewer line. It runs from the mouth of the canyon to the Brighton Loop. All residents and businesses within 300 feet of the sewer line must connect. The name was changed to the Big Cottonwood Canyon Improvement District in 2009. It incorporated the entire canyon sewer system then. It contracts with the Cottonwood Improvement District for major maintenance projects and processing.
Brighton Drain plays its small but vital role. It helps manage storm water and prevent flooding. It’s easy to take these systems for granted. But they are essential for protecting our environment and public health.
So next time you turn on the tap or see clear streets after a storm think of Brighton Drain. It is a testament to the infrastructure working quietly behind the scenes. It ensures that Brighton remains a pristine mountain paradise.