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Brainerd commission adopts wastewater facility plan, outlines phased upgrades and funding options
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Summary
After a public hearing, the commission approved a facility plan to address biosolids storage and future nutrient‑removal needs at the Brainerd wastewater treatment plant. Consultants recommended a phased approach with initial biosolids dewatering and ancillary repairs (Phase 1 estimated at about $41–42 million) and a limit‑driven conversion to activated sludge as Phase 2.
The Brainerd Public Utilities Commission held a public hearing Feb. 24 and adopted a facility plan to address long‑standing biosolids storage shortfalls and prepare the wastewater treatment plant for future nutrient‑removal limits. Bolton & Mink project manager Morgan Salo presented the plan and cost opinions.
"Biosolids are a primary need," Salo said, noting that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) requires 180 days of biosolids storage and Brainerd has intermittently fallen short of that standard. The consultant recommended a phased program: Phase 1 to construct a dewatering biosolids treatment process and perform system maintenance and upgrades (estimated capital $41–42 million), and Phase 2—driven by regulatory limits—to convert to an activated sludge biological nutrient removal process.
Salo told the commission that keeping the existing sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) would require extensive improvements to meet future nitrogen and phosphorus limits and that activated sludge provides more operational flexibility and vendor diversity. For biosolids, alternatives considered were expanding storage (keeping current digestion and land application) or converting to dewatering and later heat drying, which would substantially reduce truck trips and transport miles.
Salo presented preliminary rate‑impact estimates: Phase 1 would increase the average residential treatment portion of the bill to about $53.45; adding Phase 2 could raise that figure to roughly $80.85, depending on financing, grant awards and debt service. Staff said the plan is a necessary step to pursue funding options including the Clean Water Revolving Fund (low‑interest loans), PSIG grants for limit‑driven needs and WIF affordability grants, as well as state or federal appropriations.
The commission opened the public hearing, received one question from resident Reid TC about methane generation from digestion (staff said prior analysis found methane yields were insufficient to generate electricity), closed the hearing and approved the resolution to submit the facility plan to MPCA for certification. Staff will use the approved plan to pursue funding and move toward preliminary design.
