A tentative timeline is coming together for the beginning of proposed improvements to Lake City’s wastewater processing systems. The community’s existing permit from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) expires in 2025 and extensive overhauls would be necessary to acquire a new permit. However, city officials are seeking a disadvantaged community designation that would give them an additional 10 to 20 years to make the required changes. While that application is pending, the firm tasked with designing the project, MSA Engineering, has started laying out the timeline for the improvements. According to Administrator, Eric Wood, construction will be separated into three phases.
Once SRF funding is approved, Wood expects the new flow monitors to be installed as early as this fall. Their focus then turns to the second and third phases of the project, which involves building an entirely new lift station and installing a submerged attached growth reactor (SAGR) system at the lagoon. These likely won’t occur for several years as they are much costlier endeavors.
The current timeline shows phase II beginning in the next 18 to 24 months if the city is able to secure adequate funding. Phase III will not get underway for at least another five to 10 years, assuming the DNR approves Lake City’s disadvantaged community application. Wood stresses these plans are very tentative and are likely to change as more information on funding sources and state requirements become available. City officials began investigating upgrades to their system after they were notified their ammonia discharges into Lake Creek, which is a habitat for the endangered Topeka Shiner, exceeded acceptable levels.
