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Germantown accepts study outlining $15M upgrades for Old Farm and Main Street lift stations
Summary
Engineers presented a draft study recommending mechanical, electrical, piping and screening upgrades and seeking state Clean Water Fund loans and grants; committee voted to accept the report and pursue design funding in 2026.
The Germantown Public Works & Highway Committee accepted a draft study on the village’s two largest sewage lift stations — Main Street and Old Farm — that recommends multi‑year upgrades to extend each facility’s life and add redundancy.
The study, presented by Dave Arnott of Rooker & Mielke, found both stations need new electrical systems, improved HVAC and plumbing, upgraded standby generators in separate buildings, automatic screening facilities and pipeline work including second force mains and lining of existing mains for redundancy. Arnott said the Old Farm pumps will need replacement with larger (about 150‑horsepower) units to meet projected 2050 peak flows; Main Street’s pumps are adequate but need mechanical rehabilitation.
The study estimates a worst‑case scenario of about $15,000,000 in costs if no grant or low‑interest money were available. “I did read that there’s potential for grants. I think that based on the size of this, that if we don’t get any grants, it’s almost $15,000,000,” resident Scott Heffley told the committee during public comment.
Why it matters: the two stations carry most of the village’s sanitary flow and have components near or beyond typical service lives. The study used updated flow projections from the village’s sanitary sewage facilities plan and recommends an aggressive grant strategy including the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Clean Water Fund Program, which provides a mix of grants and low‑interest loans. Arnott said the Clean Water Fund could significantly reduce user cost impacts compared with the conservative, grant‑free estimate.
Key recommendations and details: the report calls for new motor control centers, variable speed drives, switchgear, replacement of undersized or aged generators in separate buildings adjacent to station buildings, automatic upstream screening buildings to remove rags and debris (currently cleaned manually up to several times per week), and installation of second force mains — about 2,700 feet of 20‑inch PVC at Main Street and a larger 30‑inch force main for Old Farm — with lining of the existing mains after the new mains are commissioned. The study includes a 30% contingency composed of a 10% construction contingency, 2% for legal matters and 18% for engineering (design, bidding, construction review and administration).
Committee discussion also covered sequencing and funding. Staff and consultants recommended designing both stations together so the village may choose which construction contract to pursue first; staff said Old Farm is the higher near‑term priority and recommended construction in 2027 for Old Farm and 2028 for Main Street if the board so chooses. Arnott said the study team will target Clean Water Fund financing and grants and that the conservative $161 annual increase per typical user cited in earlier material did not include Clean Water Fund assistance.
Action taken: the committee voted to accept the Rooker & Mielke Old Farm and Main Street lift station study and to include design funding in the 2026 budget process. The motion passed by voice vote.
Next steps: staff said the next formal step would be acceptance of the report by the village (which the committee approved) and then a 2026 budget request for design funds and pursuit of grant/loan applications.
