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Council hears plans to require pretreatment at some industrial connections after persistent blockages
Summary
City staff reported continuing problems at an industrial lift station — large paper towels and plastics are binding new chopper pumps — and said the city is considering policy options, including requiring shredder pumps or other pretreatment by businesses to protect the sewer system.
Morgan Marler told the council that despite new chopper pumps at the industrial lift station, crews continue to find large amounts of paper and plastic that bind pumps and check valves. "There's big paper towels... big chunks of plastic," Marler said, describing material that is damaging equipment and creating ongoing maintenance burdens.
Marler said the city will explore policy options to reduce those inflows, including encouraging voluntary retrofits and moving toward requirements for shredder pumps at industrial connections. He said staff is working with the pump manufacturer and with colleagues in the administration to design solutions that minimize financial impact on businesses while protecting municipal infrastructure.
