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La Crosse wastewater plant upgrades meet strict phosphorus limit; cogen start planned for March 5
Summary
Public works staff said upgrades at the La Crosse wastewater treatment plant — including disc filters, enhanced digesters and a heat dryer — are meeting a 0.1 mg/L phosphorus limit; staff estimated chemical costs near $1 million annually and said the plant's cogeneration unit should run 24/7 after a direct-transfer switch is installed by March 5.
Jared, the wastewater superintendent, briefed the Board of Public Works on Jan. 12 about the multi-year upgrade to La Crosse’s wastewater treatment plant, saying the project has improved reliability, created energy-recovery opportunities and achieved a new low-level phosphorus discharge limit.
The plant treats about 10 million gallons per day (10 MGD) with a biological-oxygen-demand load of roughly 30,000 pounds per day. As part of the upgrade, staff installed fine screening, new disc filters and expanded digester capacity. Jared told the board the disc filters are meeting the current phosphorus limit — about 0.1 milligrams per liter — but that doing so drives maintenance and chemical costs. He said the plant uses roughly 500 gallons per day of ferric chloride and estimated the annual chemical…
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