Major upgrades may be in store for the Trenton wastewater treatment facility if the city is to meet the minimum standards for ammonia levels and fats, oil and grease levels.
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Major upgrades may be in store for the Trenton wastewater treatment facility if the city is to meet the minimum standards for ammonia levels and fats, oil and grease levels.
The issue was discussed during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Trenton Board of Public Works, which oversees operations of Trenton Municipal Utilities. Utility Director Chad Davis told board members that the city’s new State Operating Permit to discharge from the wastewater treatment plant includes some new parameters. One involves ammonia levels, which will now be monitored for the next three years and by Dec. 31, 2008, the city will be required to meet certain limits. Further discussion revealed that the time of detainment (how long the water is held in the concrete containers) is key, as is the temperature. Bobby Hutchinson noted that the ammonia level cannot be blamed on major industry, such as ConAgra Foods, since the level actually goes up when the plant is on shutdown and comes back down after the plant is back in operation. Davis noted that the wastewater plant seems to actually create ammonia and that when tests are run, the treatment plant is only in compliance about 25 percent of the time, giving him only limited confidence that the current facility can ever meet the required limits.
Another issue involved in the permit is the monitoring of fats, oil and grease levels, something the city has not tested for in the past. Because there is no prior data, there is no baseline from which to operate. Davis said the city will likely appeal the decision, but must do so within 30 days. He noted that the appeal would include asking for a phase-in period and different parameters for the calculation of ammonia limits in hopes they could be higher than what the permit now requires. While indicating that an appeal is likely, Davis noted there are costs involved in that course of action.
Board members are planning to visit treatment plants in Columbia and Marshall on Wednesday, Feb. 8. In Columbia, the group will visit a wetland facility, looking at alternate treatment processes. In Marshall, the group will tour that city’s entire wastewater treatment plant. The tours will give the board some ideas about what types of upgrades and services could be made to the city’s treatment plant.
The board heard updates on water distribution projects, including the Little Woods project, which is basically complete and has all services connected. Davis also reported on the planned relocation of a water line in the vicinity of the new county/city law enforcement center, which will be located at the corner of Main and Seventh streets. At this point, it appears that the best option is to relocate an eight-inch water main from Main Street to Washington Street, with the connection at the hydrant at the northwest corner of Sixth and Washington streets. A new eight-inch main would be installed in Washington Street north to an Eighth Street connection to an existing main in Seventh Street. It was also noted that work is needed on the sanitary and storm sewers in that area, at a cost of $30,000 to $35,000 in addition to the $50,000 already needed for the water line work. Davis said there is money budgeted for sewer upgrades.
Davis also reported that one of the three pumps at the South Main lift station is not operating properly and repairs will be made at a cost of $20,000 to $25,000. In addition, a complete diagnosis of the other two pumps will be made to see if repairs are needed. He also discussed a project on Ridgeway that has just begun and which involves laying about 300 feet of sewer line. The cost is estimated at $7,000 to $10,000. Davis noted that the property owners in the area have been very cooperative.
In other business, the board was informed that SO2 credits can be purchased from Columbia for less than market value (about $25,000 to $30,000). The credits are needed because only a certain level of emissions is allowed throughout the entire country. When an entity such as the city has surpassed its emissions, it could be fined, unless another entity has not used its entire allotment. That city can then sell “credits” it does not need to an entity that has used its allotment. The city of Trenton can purchase 29 credits from Columbia, Davis said. Board members also voted to approve a mutual aid agreement with the Missouri Public Utilities Association and held a discussion concerning regional waster supply organizations, including the North Central Missouri Regional Water Commission. Davis said that the Sullivan County Water Supply District buys 125,000 to 150,000 gallons of water each day from Trenton and noted that the utility continues to work with entities to sell water to meet their needs while ensuring that there is plenty of water to meet local demands.
Board members discussed line-loss figures compared to a year ago and heard an update on economic development activities and the Hometown Competitiveness program, as well as learning that the city council has approved an agreement with LifeFlight Eagle to place an antenna on the Princeton Road water tower. Budget meetings were also set tentatively set for March 13 and 14.
The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 28.