Overview
H&S completed a feasibility study to seek funding for the $20 million dollar project. The report included the construction of major plant improvements and line work improvements that would allow the Lower Big River Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) to become a regional plant. The improvements included in the plan will remove multiple upstream plants from operations. In late 2020, funding was secured from USDA-Rural Development and the design is currently underway. The project included the refinancing of approximately $5 million in existing debt to a much reduced rate so that user rates could be kept low. The feasibility study included estimating of capital costs, review of Operating and Maintenance scheduled, updates to Replacement schedules and ultimately a user charge review. Phase 1 of the regionalization project will include the decommissioning of four existing direct discharging treatment facilities, and construction of 2.6 miles of new sewer networks to connect numerous un-sewered homes to the Lower Big River WWTP. The existing Lower Big River WWTP will be upgraded with a new oxidation ditch treatment process designed to process 650,000 gpd, with future Phase 2 regionalization expansion to 1.0 MGD. The existing package plant treatment units at the Lower Big River WWTP will be refurbished to be utilized as aerobic digesters allowing for the WWTP to operate as a regional biosolids handling facility for the District. The WWTP upgrades will also include design and construction of a new elevated headworks with automatic fine screening and manual screen bypass, and a new UV disinfection system.
