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There will be a major undertaking of the wastewater treatment plant of Manitowoc Public Utilities.
According to a post from MPU, a master plan study showed that the nearly 50-year-old stack filters and final clarifiers need to be upgraded.
The stack filters provide most of the wastewater treatment, and the final clarifiers remove suspended solids before the treated water is discharged into Lake Michigan.
MPU Wastewater Technical Administrator Mike Jaeger explains to SeehaferNews.com says the plant uses biological treatment, which has microorganisms remove waste from the wastewater before it’s sent out to the lake.
However, over time the organisms on media, which in this case are the materials used to filter out pollutants, are starting to wear out.
“They are not quite performing up to how they used to,” he explained. “And we’ve had a couple of violations because of that and normally there in the cold weather months because like humans, like us, microorganisms struggle with the cold, the colder water. Their metabolism shuts down. We got the organic load coming in from the city, is just as strong, and they can’t quite take out the same amount of material.”
Jaeger says the project would include taking out the media, which will include both rock filters and plastic synthetic and completely replacing it.
Replacement also includes the replacement of clarifiers, which will improve performance and reliability, especially since three of the four mechanisms are nearly 50 years old and the fourth mechanism is more than 20 years old.
New distributor arms will also be installed, as well as new ventilation to help the organisms thrive.
While there is a lot of work, Jaeger says residents won’t see a difference at home. However, the entire project will take two years to do.
“It was good timing to do it,” he noted. “This past year, the funding all ran out in the state. There were so many projects that were being sought after from municipalities that there was no guarantee that your project would be scored and be able to be completed.”
The $15 million project is possible through a State of Wisconsin Clean Water Fund Loan the city qualified for.
Jaeger says it’s a very low-interest loan with 2.1% principal forgiveness.
“We can only do one at a time,” he said. “It makes sure that the other one is operating and then once we do complete the one that we are rehabbing or repairing, we have to make sure that we reestablish that biology. Make sure it’s doing its thing before we can even contemplate shutting off the second one.”
Jaeger warns there will be a slight rate increase for wastewater, but MPU must have money set aside for the project.
Work will start on the west stack filter beginning next month.
The entire project is scheduled to be finished at the end of 2026.
