Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wastewater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves wastewater plant compliance resolution; staff flag industrial discharge for follow-up
Summary
The council approved a routine annual self-assessment and report from the wastewater utility to the Wisconsin DNR and heard from staff that a single industrial discharger is producing elevated biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) that may require reclassification and surcharges.
The Two Rivers City Council approved a resolution documenting the wastewater utility's annual self-assessment and directing continued follow-up on an industrial discharge that is driving elevated biological oxygen demand (BOD) at the treatment plant.
City public works staff told the council the plant is operating well overall but has a recurring BOD influent exceedance attributed to one discharger whose wastewater strength is approximately five to ten times that of a normal residential customer. The utility is working with that business, collecting sampling data and pursuing reclassification of the customer from standard residential-category billing to a higher-strength (Category B) rate that would include a surcharge to cover added treatment costs.
Matt, the public works director and city engineer, summarized the issue: “The one failing grade that we have consistently been getting is in the BOD influent…a lot of grease and decomposable gunk…We are working with a specific discharger to try and rectify this.” He told the council the city will meet with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to review feedback and next steps; DNR action could require the plant to be recertified at a higher performance level if the discharger is not controlled.
Council moved, and after a roll-call vote, approved waiving the reading and adopting the wastewater treatment plant compliance resolution. The meeting record shows a roll-call vote was taken; the resolution was carried and will be filed with the Wisconsin DNR as the annual self-assessment.
Council members also asked about rate structures and surcharges. Staff confirmed that a Category B designation and surcharge are being pursued for the high-strength user and that additional disposal of sludge caused by elevated influent will increase operating costs. The utility will return with details on sampling, surcharge implementation or other enforcement steps as they develop.
