City of Hooper Vacuum Collection System

The City of Hooper, located west of Ogden near the shores of the Great Salt Lake, has historically been a relatively rural community. Much of the City was served by on-site septic systems. With increased growth and higher densities, continued use of on-site treatment systems was no longer feasible due to concerns over water quality impacts. Considering this, the City of Hooper recently eliminated septic tanks and combined some existing gravity-flow collection systems into a single, modern, contained, affordable system.

After considerable study and professional consultation, Hooper officials elected to install a vacuum sewer system. Work was completed in 2007. Three vacuum stations create vacuum pressure with the 22.8 miles of collection lines that serve more than 900 connections with capacity for over 3,000 connections. Sewage is pumped to the Central Weber Sewer District gravity trunkline at the north end of Hooper and delivered via that system to the CWSD treatment plant in Marriott-Slaterville several miles north of Hooper. The system is staffed by two full-time people: a sewer manager and an operator.

Hooper's terrain is relatively flat and the area is surrounded on three sides by wetlands with a high underground water table. Digging the deep trenches necessary for a gravity-flow system would have required lots of heavy equipment, trench boxes, and dewatering. A gravity system would have required up to 12 pumping stations, which would add to the initial capital costs and create a more arduous maintenance schedule for years to come. 

Vacuum sewer technology does not rely upon gravity but rather uses negative pressure in an air-tight system to propel the sewage to the vacuum stations so the pipes can be buried at shallower depths, usually 4-6 feet. Household wastewater is conveyed to the system by gravity. A buried sump near the street collects wastewater to a predetermined level, usually about 10 gallons. At that point a pneumatic value activates releasing the contents of the sump into the vacuum collection line. The sewage within the line is propelled at speeds of 15-18 feet per second through the line to one of three vacuum stations where it is then transferred to the wastewater treatment plant.

The system has been successfully operating since 2007. City staff has been working with the new facilities and look forward to bringing new vacuum stations on line in the future. The City of Hooper operations staff is more than happy to provide insight into vacuum collection systems and are willing to give tours of their facility. Contact Dennis Steele at the City of Hooper if you have questions or are interested in a tour.

Hooper Vacuum Station (exterior) constructed to look like a residential home.

Vacuum Station (inside)

Vacuum Station (inside)

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