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Washburn sewer system: DNR finds deficiencies; local operator sets Aug. 7 response and proposes December completion for pump panels
Summary
Urban Services reported a DNR inspection that listed 12 required actions and multiple recommended fixes for the Washburn sewer lagoon and collection system; the operator outlined immediate fixes and set an August 7 deadline for the formal DNR response and a proposed December 31 completion date for remaining pump panels.
Ben Della Gardell, the Urban Services representative responsible for the Washburn sewer system, told supervisors July 22 that a recent Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) inspection produced 12 required actions and 11 recommendations. He said the DNR visit triggered an August 7 deadline for a formal written response to the agency.
Della Gardell reviewed the DNRs required items and the countys planned responses. He said he missed two monthly Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) in the prior five-year period and will submit what he has and resubmit when samples arrive. He summarized other required actions, including correct sampling frequency, annual nitrogen reporting, and ensuring inflow stays within design capacity.
On the wastewater collection infrastructure, Della Gardell reported progress and follow-up work: the influent manhole repair is complete and the lagoon manhole/valve project is finished; burrowing-animal holes around the influent manhole have been repaired; warning signage was received and will be installed; and the flow-meter pit will be locked and keyed to match the lagoon gate.
Della Gardell described the pump-panel replacement project: there are 147 pump panels (about 75 duplex panels), roughly 44 panels have been completed and about 103 remain. He proposed completing about five panels per week with a new target completion date of Dec. 31 of this year. He said the panels carry a one-year warranty from installation and that he will provide serial-number documentation to the board when available.
He also outlined a sludge-management requirement: the DNR asked for a sludge-evaluation ("sludge judge") to measure sediment depth. Della Gardell explained that the county should consider dredging when the sludge blanket reaches roughly 33–50 percent of the pond depth and that dredging would be costly; he said he will consult with contractors and county staff to develop a plan.
Other technical notes included a DNR instruction to perform pH testing within 15 minutes of sample draws, clarification that some influent sampling must be done within 90-day windows (not generic quarterly timing), and an outstanding question about calibration frequency for the Siemens Mag 5000 flow meter; Della Gardell said he will contact Siemens for their recommendation.
Why it matters: the DNR-required fixes affect regulatory compliance and potential future costs (notably dredging) for the Washburn lagoon and collection system. Della Gardell committed to responding to the DNR by Aug. 7 and to return to the board with progress updates.
Ending: Supervisors asked for updates and requested a future briefing; Della Gardell said he expects to return before October with an update on the pump-panel work and will send the DNR response to county staff once submitted.
