Lake Lotawana’s wastewater treatment plant No. 1 was in dire need of repair prior to the completion of this project. The existing package treatment plant basins were below grade, constructed of corrugated, galvanized metal. The primary cell of the original facultative lagoon had been retained as peak flow storage, but inadequate flow control was provided between the peak flow storage and the treatment plant. The influent bar screen was unreliable and often out of service, the undersized clarifiers were constructed within the aeration basins and corroded, the filters had lost all media, the UV disinfection system was unreliable, and the facility was unable to operate at its design flow rate.
A short-term study of repairs that were needed to keep the wastewater treatment plant operational for a two to five-year period was completed in July 2016. The short-term study was followed by completion of a Wastewater Treatment Plant Facility Plan, which analyzed multiple long-term options, in October 2018. The City Board of Alderman approved long term improvements to the facility, which led to a design project with a budget of $4.15M. The improvements include a new screen structure/influent pump station, a new anaerobic basin, modifications to the existing anoxic and aerobic basins, new clarifiers, a new UV disinfection system, cascade aeration, and related improvements.
