Wastewater Plant Expansion

Town Given Estimate on Wastewater Plant Expansion
    Over Five Million Dollars
   Ryan Brauen, of Wessler Engineering, has given the Greentown Town Council a succinct description of the need for a major upgrade and expansion of the wastewater plant. In a nutshell, the plant is old and too small for current and future needs. The original concrete structures date to 1963-64. Because of an unacceptable number of sewer overflows, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) has placed the town on a Sewer Ban prohibiting new hookups, therefore halting expansion of the town and inhibiting economic growth. When overflows occur, raw sewage is discharged into Brunk Ditch which leads to Kokomo Reservoir, which is a drinking water source.
   Two previous treatment plant projects during the past 20 years or so have not solved the problem. The first upgrade project in 1990 included a “boat” clarifier method of settling solids which is easily upset at higher flows. In 2001 a new surge tank was built with the purpose of storing large inflows to allow the sewage to be treated gradually. In addition to these previous projects
at the plant, repairs have recently been made to many sewers and manholes which has helped to significantly reduce high wet-weather flows and overflows, but the existing treatment plant is still lacking in capacity, with some structures and much of the equipment beyond its typical 20-year service life.     A sewer rate increase was put in place about three years ago to pay for that phase. Several individuals have ceased from allowing water from their downspouts and sump pumps to go into the sanitary sewer. Lateral drains have also been replaced in some instances. All those efforts, although helpful, have not been enough. IDEM has called for a completion date of March 2013 for the treatment plant upgrade.
   Ryan reported that Wessler has estimated the cost of the plant expansion at $4.4 million and with non-construction costs added, it will be about $5.4 million. Wessler is confident that the completed project will remove the town from the sewer ban and should handle about 100 additional homes.
   The Council authorized a rate study and will be exploring means of financing the project.
   Town Council President, Joyce Higginbottom, gives details of some of the work done by the town. “We found a field tile that was discharging rainwater into the sewer system and have had it closed off and rerouted to a storm ditch.  We put in a new sewer line to replace an old and broken one, we have lined miles of pipe to stop leaks, replaced old manholes..these are just some of the things that we are doing to try and help the problem., but it is still not enough.” 
  Higginbottom, stressed that residents can do their part. “A pump recently required repair because a mophead was put down the sewer.  Luckily a repair was possible but a new pump could run $9,000.  Every time someone does something like this, it costs.  When they run their sump pumps into the sewer, it costs, when they have broken or leaking laterals, it costs.  The town does not want to raise the sewer rates, we and our families pay the same rates as everyone else in town, but we cannot put this off any longer.  IDEM is not going to let us.”
    Higginbottom says she will be glad to give anyone in town a tour of the plant to see for themselves what it is like.