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La Porte wastewater official reports first combined sewer overflow in five years after heavy rain; generator replacement tied to headworks project
Summary
At the Aug. 19 Board of Public Works meeting, Mr. Jackson reported a combined sewer overflow at the treatment plant after heavy overnight rain and said the plant’s backup generator performed marginally; staff said a generator replacement is part of the headworks project and noted funding pressures from utility and energy cost increases.
Mr. Jackson, representing the city’s wastewater operations, told the Board of Public Works and Safety on Aug. 19 that heavy rain overnight caused a combined sewer overflow at La Porte’s treatment plant — the first such overflow in five years. He said the plant’s backup generator was “acting up” and that NIPSCO restored power shortly before his morning update.
“That is first time in 5 years,” Jackson said, and later added that the generator “was acting up, and it was enough to keep the treatment plant running, but just barely.” City staff said a generator replacement is planned as part of the headworks project at the treatment plant.
Board members and staff used the incident to reiterate the connection between capital needs and utility rates. The clerk treasurer and other staff noted that work planned for headworks and other sanitary-sewer improvements require funding and that external energy-cost increases such as NIPSCO’s rate actions can compound affordability challenges for residents. “So when we talk about water increases, sewer increases, if we don’t do those increases to get the work done, this is what will happen,” a board member said during discussion.
Jackson said he will file a report on the overflow and that staff are documenting the event; he also said video of the overflow exists and that a generator technician was on site to address the unit. No formal board action was recorded; the matter was presented as an informational report and follow-up task for staff.
