Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wastewater Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Notus officials weigh UV treatment after chemical-building fire at sewer lagoon
Summary
Public works staff reported a fire at the sewer lagoon chemical/chlorine building and a water mainline washout; staff said they filed an insurance claim and warned that reverting to an earlier DEQ discharge permit could risk E.coli exceedances. Officials discussed switching to UV disinfection.
Public Works Supervisor Tyler Martin told the council Jan. 5 that a water mainline leak washed out under 1st Street and that poor system maps made isolating the shutoff difficult. He also reported a fire at the sewer-lagoon chemical building on the chlorine side and said the city has filed an insurance claim.
‘‘This will disrupt current wastewater discharge. We can’t let the lagoon overflow so we may have to go back to the old DEQ discharge permit procedure but that will mean we will be in violation of E.coli levels again,’’ Tyler Martin said, and he urged the council to reconsider a UV-disinfection upgrade as a safer alternative to chlorine.
City Planner and Engineer Antonio Conti said staff is preparing a wastewater seepage test plan for review by IDEQ, expected to start in April or May, and that the city needs accurate as-built water-system maps and a GIS conversion to improve operations. Conti also mentioned the Conway Ridge development agreements are complete and recommended updated mapping and documentation of water infrastructure.
Mayor David Porterfield commented that UV systems require a higher initial investment but are easier to expand and may reduce safety and dechlorination costs over time. Councilmembers directed staff to continue planning and to include mapping and permit options in upcoming budget and capital-project discussions.
