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County staff report successful December discharge and ongoing pump-panel upgrades for Washburn sanitary system
Summary
Urban Services staff told the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors that routine monitoring of the Washburn sanitary sewer system showed compliance after a December discharge; staff reported low recent service-call counts and said a pump-panel upgrade project is about one-third complete and awaiting thaw for heavier work.
Ben Dela Gardel, an Urban Services presenter, told the Black Hawk County Board of Supervisors on Feb. 25 that the Washburn sanitary sewer system operated within permit limits after a planned discharge in December and that planned maintenance and upgrades are underway.
The presentation focused on three near-term items: recent sampling results, service-call volumes, and an in-progress pump-panel upgrade. “We had a successful discharge in December,” Ben Dela Gardel said. “The samples were all within the limit parameters, so a successful operation happened there.”
County staff highlighted that service calls — primarily for pump outages and red-light alarms — have been lower in the most recent six months. Dela Gardel said the system averaged fewer than one service call per month over that span, down from a reference target they used earlier in budgeting. He cautioned the board that counts can vary: “This successful time can, you know, be a little bit of a roller coaster,” he said, and noted call volume changes with seasonal usage and equipment condition.
Dela Gardel described the Washburn collection setup as a pressurized “grinder pump” system with individual lift stations serving clusters of homes. He said the pressurized lines rely on scouring from pump pressure rather than periodic gravity-line televising. Because the system is pressurized, comprehensive line scoping would require shutting down larger areas and is not a routine part of the system’s maintenance, he said.
On infrastructure work, Dela Gardel said the pump-panel upgrade project is about one-third complete but paused while the ground is frozen; he expects heavier work as the weather thaws. He also said the department has been in contact with contractors on two other projects that are similarly awaiting improved weather.
Board members asked questions about inspection frequency and whether the pressurized system needs periodic scoping similar to gravity systems. Dela Gardel said there is not an industry standard that mandates televising for pressurized grinder-pump systems and that the system’s operation has produced few blockages historically. He offered to research recommended inspection intervals if the board wants more guidance.
The presentation concluded with board members thanking staff and asking for more frequent updates while the pump-panel project continues.
