PUBLIC INFORMATION  
Salt Lake County Service Area #3 (SA3) is governed by a three member board of publicly elected Trustees whose terms are staggered to ensure continuity and to give SA3 a direction it can follow for many years. Board meetings are open to the public and occur once a month throughout the year. Below, you will find minutes from these monthly board meetings and other public notices and advisories. For minutes other than those listed below, please call (801) 278 9660.
Notices |
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Notice: All Property Tax collected by Salt Lake County Service Area #3 are deposited into the PTIF Infrastructure Savings Fund. |
2024 Meeting Schedule |
Monthly Board Meeting Agenda |
2023 Consumer Confidence Report |
Rate Resolution 21 |
WIPES CLOG PIPES: Please Click for Important Information |
Board Meeting Minutes |
ABOUT US  
Salt Lake County Service Area #3 (SA3) is a government water/sewer district
located in Little Cottonwood Canyon at Snowbird. SA3 is responsible for
providing drinking water and wastewater services to Snowbird ski resort
and many of the residences along the Alta Bypass Road. We also manage
the Town of Alta's water system through an interlocal agreement. SA3 has
provided reliable, safe drinking water continuously
since the inception of Snowbird in 1971 and currently has a fulltime
staff of three. We are governed by a three member board of Trustees
whose terms are staggered to ensure continuity and to give the Service
Area a direction it can follow for many years. Our General Manager is
Kasey Carpenter.
We operate two water treatment plants, the larger of the two being in
the Wasatch Drain Tunnel and the other being atop Snowbird's Hidden Peak.
In addition to the treatment plants, SA3 is directly responsible for four
storage reservoirs that store over 30 million gallons of water, two
pumping plants, and approximately 15 miles of distribution piping.
In addition to the facilities above, under contract, we operate one water
treatment plant and three pump stations for the Town of Alta.
All of our system operators are continually trained and are State certified
in water treatment or distribution, at levels above those required by law.
Bryauna Alderin - Office Manager - bryauna@canyonwater.com
John Brindle - System Operator - john@canyonwater.com
OUR WATER  
Little Cottonwood Canyon has a significant amount of mines that were dug since the
1800's through the present day. Mines have a tendency to fill with water
unless a drain is provided. The Wasatch Drain Tunnel (WDT) was constructed
during the period of 1912 to 1916 by Wasatch Mines Company to drain water from the mines
and improve ore transportation efficiencies from approximately 50 miles of
silver, lead, copper, and zinc mines in and around Snowbird and Alta. The WDT,
long since abandoned as a mining operation, is now the major water source for
Snowbird, Utah, not only for domestic water uses, but snowmaking and electrical
power plant (co-generation) cooling purposes as well. The WDT also provides
an important discharge of water to Little Cottonwood Creek, the main tributary
of Little Cottonwood Canyon and the Little Cottonwood Mining District of Utah.
In 1985, SA3 completed installation of a unique steel and concrete
bulkhead structure, designed to dam water in the WDT. Through the use of this
device, the WDT now serves as a underground water reservoir, backing water up
into various mine tunnels located above and adjacent to it. At the same time,
a water treatment plant was also established in the WDT to remove the chemicals
Iron, Manganese, Lead, Copper, Antimony, Cadmium, Zinc, and Arsenic. In addition to water
from the WDT, numerous mountain springs also contribute quality drinking water to
the SA3 water system. While the WDT does possess the necessary positive characteristics
of a valuable water asset, good management practices are still most essential
and needed in this operative situation to always insure that this resource
provides the best for the Snowbird area, canyon and valley communities and ecosystems.
The continuing management of this asset will insure that it will remain useful
for generations to come.
It is imperative to never go into an abandoned mine without proper supervision
or equipment as severe injury or death could result from cave-in, oxygen deficiency
or numerous other catastrophes.
WATERSHED  
Little Cottonwood Canyon, part of the Salt Lake City Watershed Area provides clear
high quality drinking water to the residents of Salt Lake City and surrounding areas.
A watershed is a geographical or geological area that is drained by a single river
system. What this means is that a drop of rain that falls on the ridgeline will
eventually make it's way to the stream at the mouth of the canyon. Because of the
uniqueness of the area it is critical that the watershed be protected and respected
by all who visit or use the Little Cottonwood Canyon area.
It is unlawful to:
-permit a dog to be taken into a watershed canyon. This does not apply to assistance dogs,
public safety dogs or property owners with specific watershed permits
-pollute or allow pollution of any water in the watershed
-operate any type of motor vehicle within the watershed except on a highway or road designated for public use
-deposit any human waste or other excrete within the watershed area except into approved toilets
-permit a horse or any other domesticated animal into the watershed area without a watershed permit
-camp overnight except in officially designated campgrounds (does not apply to backpacking)
-bathe swim or wash clothes or diapers or any object in the stream or water source
Watershed Regulations are enforced by:
-Salt Lake City Watershed Management
-Salt Lake County Sheriff
-Salt Lake Valley Health Dept
-Salt Lake City Police Dept.
-US Forest Service
-Town of Alta Marshal's Dept, when in the Town of Alta
This is only a partial list. Please visit here for a complete list of regulations