Trimont council confronts new wastewater permit limits, seeks Class A operator

The Trimont City Council on Jan. 21 addressed new wastewater permit criteria that could change how the city discharges effluent and operates its treatment plant. Council heard that state-imposed phosphorus limits for discharge to farmland are not feasible under the city’s current pond setup, and the council approved staff outreach to recruit a Class A operator to meet potential new requirements.

Travis, speaking during the pond update, said the USDA PER response remains pending but that the state’s effluent phosphorus limit for the farmland parcel owned by the city “is not feasible for discharge” under current configurations. Council members were told the town’s collection and distribution systems are aged and approaching the end of their service lives, though the wastewater plant “meets the limits most of the time,” according to the update.

The state’s new permit criteria would qualify the plant as Class A; the city has formally requested a variance and discussed arranging for a Class A operator should the permit require it. Council Member Brian Krumwiede moved and the council unanimously approved a motion authorizing Jason to contact a potential Class A operator to evaluate whether the city can meet the new requirements and what would be involved.

City staff noted Trimont is ranked second on the state’s priority list for action and that ponds may be cheaper to operate than a mechanical plant in some scenarios; however, the phosphorus limit for the farmland parcel appears to be the key technical constraint prompting the variance request. The council did not set a timeline for a final decision; the plant’s classification will be determined during the permit renewal process.

The next formal step is the state’s permit renewal and the pending variance review. Staff outreach to possible Class A operators is underway per the council’s motion.