The Jordan City Council moved forward on a $6.9 million project to expand its water treatment plant and dig a new well.

In a unanimous vote tonight, the council approved the plans and specifications and authorize the advertisement of bids for the plant. It will be bid April 2.

"That plant is nearing its capacity," City Engineer Carol Caron said. "It makes sense to expand the plant in that location. ... It does double capacity. It will be double the size, too."

Every summer -- when residents use a lot of water, especially to keep their lawns green -- city officials worry about whether the water treatment plant near St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in lowertown Jordan will be able to handle its workload.

Caron said the expanded plant would create a "tight footprint" on the site. Well No. 8, which is nearly complete, will be the third well on the water treatment plant site.

Well No. 3, located inside the fire hall, has been pumping sand for years and is not redevelopable. It will be closed.

This week, Jordan paid another $20,000 to contractor E.H. Renner for work done on well No. 8. The 600-foot-deep well behind the water treatment plant will tap into
the Mt. Simon aquifer.

The plans and specifications for the project are available to the public at the city hall, 210 E. First St. in downtown Jordan.