• 
• CLASS
• JOBS
• AUTO
• HOMES

Public hearing focused on wastewater plant

ORFORDVILLE — A proposal to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility in Orfordville would nearly double the average residential user’s sewer bill.

The average resident now pays about $90 per quarter for the sewer portion of the sewer/water bill, said Gene Laschinger, consulting engineer with Town & Country Engineering in Madison. Under the proposal, the bill would increase to about $171 per quarter for the sewer portion of the bill, he said.

Residents can have their say on the proposed $2.16 million upgrade at a public hearing Tuesday at the village hall.

The proposal is in an early planning phase, Laschinger said. The village board has not yet approved the project, and no timeline for construction has been set, he said.

While the plant at 702 W. Brodhead St. is not over capacity, the facility is 30 to 35 years old. The normal life of a wastewater treatment plants is 20 years, Laschinger said.

“There are many improvements that really need to be made in order to keep the plant functioning properly,” he said.

Parts in the electrical system are becoming obsolete, and new parts are unavailable. Some of the tanks need to be upgraded because the equipment is worn out, he said.

The facility also doesn’t meet state Department of Natural Resources requirements for 180 days of sludge storage. Depending on how the plant is operated, it has anywhere from 75 to 120 days of storage, he said.

Proposed upgrades include:

-- Upgrading tanks.

-- Increasing sludge storage.

-- Installing a system to remove phosphorus to meet expected regulation changes.

-- Remodeling the building and replacing electrical equipment.

-- Replacing blowers, pumps and other equipment.

-- Constructing a new building for blowers, generators and electrical gear.

A low-interest loan would help fund the capital project, but the village would seek grant money, too, Laschinger said.

The board likely will continue discussing the project at its Monday, Nov. 28, meeting, he said.

IF YOU GO

What: Public hearing on upgrades to the Orfordville wastewater treatment facilities

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: Village hall, 106 N. Center St., Orfordville.

Details: The public hearing will include discussion of population and design projections, alternatives evaluated, review of the alternative selected, environmental impacts, implementation schedule and cost to users.

A copy of the facilities plan is be available for review at the Orfordville Village Hall and at the Orfordville Library. Comments can be mailed to the Village of Orfordville, 106 N. Center St., P.O. Box 409, Orfordville, WI 53576-0409. Comments will be accepted up to 15 days past the hearing date.

Questions: Call Eugene Laschinger, consulting engineer, at (608) 273-3350.