A town in Michigan is waiting on state regulators to sign off on upgrades to its wastewater treatment system. According to The Herald Palladium, approval is needed before Three Oaks can seek federal grants and loans needed to help tackle the estimated $1.25 million project. Mike Green, village manager, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture could cover up to 40% of the project through its rural development program.
According to The Herald Palladium, the Village Council unanimously approved the “moderate” plan for upgrades after months of discussion.
Brian Hannon and Jacob Bruggink, consulting engineers of the firm Moore & Bruggink, said the plan will handle domestic and industrial waste, as well as future growth. Also, a 20% safety factor to handle peak periods.
According to Greene, the construction on the upgrades and increased aeration system at the treatment lagoons will not start until Aug. 2019.
Documents submitted to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) include an Industrial Pretreatment Plan, according to The Herald Palladium. The plan will include local limits on discharge levels and fees for permits for customers. Three Oaks has been working under a MDEQ extension through November to submit its IPP, since August.
Customers who exceed the limit of biochemical oxygen demand discharge set by the town will be required to pre-treat waste down to the limit. However, Greene has said there are very few customers in this category.
Those in the category, such as restaurants and bakeries, will be required to provide manhold-like access to the sewage discharge outlet to allow testing. According to Greene, the village will contact customers to tell them of limits and requirements. He also said residential customers may see an increase in their monthly ready-to-serve charge of $6 to $9, until the sewer bond is repaid in 2023.
The issue of wastewater has been in the spotlight since tests showed the three-lagoon system is handling four- to five-times higher concentrations of waste than the average domestic waste. According to The Herald Palladium, Journeyman Distillery was named a contributor to the high levels.