Several years ago it was becoming apparent that our sanitary sewer collection and procession system needed work to accommodate future growth.
In 2013 The City undertook to rebuild the entire Water Resource and Recovery Center, also known as the sewage treatment facility. The plant was completely rebuilt on the footprint of the existing facility without losing a single day of operations.
It was becoming obvious that the sewage collection system was nearing capacity, especially the catfish creek branch that serves much of the west side, including the industrial parks.
Multiple projects were initiated over the next several years to try and stay ahead of this situation. Growth was happening, ready or not, and we wanted to be ready.
Two significant setbacks occurred that cost us time, lots of time:
- The sewer line and lift station under the most stress was in the area of the former village of Rockdale that was nearly wiped out in a flood in 1876. It was determined that an archeological study would have to be performed before work could commence of replacing the lift station and collector piping. This study and relocation of the project cost us two years.
- COVID happened, where hiring was frozen, projects were postponed and much of the world came to a stop.
A good news/bad news situation has ensued. Development has been incredibly robust, pushing the system’s limits.
Though the work is budgeted and underway, it takes years to accomplish. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has stepped in and is requiring that any properties with 15 or more residents or employees on site must go through a permitting process for any new connections to this system. This means that some developments might need to be delayed, or that temporary waste disposal options may need to be engineered into these projects.
This is not a good situation to be in, but it is where we are. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Huge projects are currently underway to create decades of new capacity.