South Milwaukee continues to invest in its wastewater treatment facility.
The latest example: An estimated $4.6 million in work that includes installation of a new and state-of-the-art ultraviolet disinfection system that will greatly increase plant capacity – and help during major flooding rainstorms.
The City Council will consider borrowing for the projects — through a 20-year state Clean Water Fund loan — at its meeting Tuesday night.
The upgrades, detailed in this document, are among those mandated by the state, and they were defined in a May 2006 study done of the wastewater treatment facility.
The biggest-ticket item is $2.2 for the new UV system. It would allow for the treatment of a peak flow of 17 million gallons per day, up from the current nine. Also planned are:
- $500,00 for a new pumping system, to replace the 30-year-old system that has exceeded its original design life;
- $400,000 for a new diesel generator to serve as a backup power source for the plant;
- $346,000 for various upgrades to the plant’s secondary digester;
- $244,000 for new “tube mixers”; and
- $200,000 for a new plant power distribution system.
The borrowing will be paid back in large part through a sewer rate increase the council approved in February. Learn more in this post.
I’d like to know what you think of the project, and the borrowing. Post your comments below!
As for me, I support the spending. I like the fact that we have independent water and sewer utilities, and, beyond the state mandates, we must spend what is necessary to keep them operating at a high level and for the long term.
Our utilities are positive points of difference for South Milwaukee. Let’s keep them that way.
South Milwaukee Blog 
I don’t understand why any of the updates mentioned in the five-point list will have the impact you stated at the top of the column re: helping “during major flooding rainstorms.” Stormwater in South Milwaukee is not treated – as I understand it – but flows directly to the creek or lake sans treatment. Are any of our street catch basins connected to sewage or other treatment modalities? But, if stormwater is leaking into the laterals, well yes, it seems that treatment improvements would be beneficial. Of course, replacement of the old and dysfunctional laterals would make that a moot point, no?
Quercus: The biggest help during big rainstorms is obviously the greatly expanded treatment capacity. However, you could argue that most of the upgrades improve the overall efficiency of the plant (during all times, storms or not). As to you other points, indeed, stormwater flows into the creek, lake, etc. without treatment. But “inflow and infiltration” of stormwater into our wastewater treatment system (through laterals) is a serious issue and we suspect a major factor in sewage backups. Replacement or repair of bad laterals would certainly help — although the question quickly becomes one of cost, and who pays for that. Homeowners are responsible for their laterals.
Don’t you just love these unfunded mandates? The state says you MUST do this that and the other thing and then you get to figure out how you are going to pay for it. Ugh!
Personally, I am not a fan of the sewer charge at all. I feel it is a bit dishonest. Your sewer is not metered and there is nothing you can do to separate your water charge from your sewer charge, so why not call the water rate what it is? This is a like selling a $15 dollar item for $10 and then charging $6 shipping – when it actually only costs $1 to ship. Just another psychological game so the city can claim low water rates and low taxes. Actually, I would like to see all of this on the tax role, which at least you can deduct from other taxes you have to pay.
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Question for you Erik – You mentioned above that at least a good chunk of this is to comply with a state mandate. Now, what would happen if the anti-Walmart crowd gets their way an force a referendum on all spending over $1M? If they people vote “no” (which would there might be a good chance for in this case), what happens? The city would be in violation of a mandate and have no way of paying for it?
SM Guy: Yes, you are correct. At least that is my understanding. Another reason not to like the $1 million “spending cap” referendum proposal.
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