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Escanaba council approves $73,500 Fishbeck study of wastewater solids, leachate and biosolids options
Summary
The council approved a 12‑month, $73,500 contract with engineering firm Fishbeck to evaluate treatment and disposal options for biosolids and leachate at the city wastewater facility, citing odors, PFAS concerns and aging digestion infrastructure.
The Escanaba City Council on April 17 approved retaining Fishbeck of Grand Rapids, Michigan, for a solids‑handling evaluation of the city’s wastewater treatment system in an amount not to exceed $73,500. The study is expected to take about 12 months and will evaluate treatment, dewatering and disposal options for biosolids and leachate.
City administration told the council the work will provide a menu of options, costs and design considerations so the city can weigh landfill disposal, drying/pressing, centrifuge/dewatering or land application alternatives instead of making an immediate, potentially costly equipment purchase. “We’ve spent quite a bit of time in our budget session talking about biosolids, and this dovetails with the…the proposal from Fishbeck,” administration said.
The study will analyze what the city is treating, how it needs to be treated and estimated costs for each alternative. Staff said the evaluation will also look at leachate and odors reported by residents near the landfill, though access to the county landfill for sampling is not guaranteed. “Part of the study is to look at the leachate,” said Mr. Lampi, a city staff member; Lampi said investigators hope to get representative collection‑system samples after planned cleaning and televising work reduces transient contamination.
Council members and staff discussed potential downstream costs if the city pursued thermal drying or a boiler system; staff said such equipment and electrical upgrades could run into the millions and that drying is energy intensive. Staff referenced a prior visit to Marinette where a centrifuge was followed by a screw press and drying oven as one possible configuration. Administration said the Fishbeck report will present options and estimated capital and operating costs so council can make an informed choice.
Council approved the contract by motion. The study’s findings and any recommended capital projects will return to council for further action.
Ending: Staff said the firm will coordinate sampling and analysis during the coming months and expects a full evaluation roughly one year after work begins; no construction or equipment purchases were authorized at the meeting.
