Wastewater Department

The Wastewater Collection System is made up of over seven miles of sanitary sewer.  Wastewater generated by residences, businesses, industry and public facilities, including schools and churches, is delivered to the system for transport to the Wastewater Treatment Plant for treatment. The wastewater collection system is under constant scrutiny to identify the sources of infiltration and inflow (unwanted water in the collection system). Construction of storm sewer associated with street improvement projects helps to allay infiltration by giving the surface water a place to go before it gets into the collection system. We try to construct the storm water collection system in such a way to allow property owners to connect their sump pumps and yard drains with the goal of keeping that water out of the flow to the treatment plant. Sump pumps attached to the sanitary sewers are illegal and the Village is in the process of inspecting homes for such connections. We do that when we change water meters or during street construction projects. Should we find such a connection, you will be asked to correct the situation. The Village of Edgar Wastewater Treatment Plant was constructed in approximately 1939 and has gone through three major updates, in 1966 and 1984 and 2000.

 

The 2000 project added a belt press, housing for the press and cold storage for the dried sludge, bringing the Village into compliance for 180 days of sludge storage as required by the DNR. The Wastewater Treatment Plant is designed to treat a maximum of 500,000 gallons of wastewater per day. Currently the average daily flow is approximately 130,000 gallons, with a recorded high flow of about 400,000 gallons in one day. High flows tend to occur during spring or heavy rainfalls as a result of infiltration/inflow into the plant from the collection system.

 

The plant has a primary process which includes a bar screen, comminuter, grit removal, primary clarifiers, rotating biological discs and a secondary clarifier. The secondary process consists of an aerated digester and a belt press. Following the secondary processing, the sludge is hauled to farmer’s fields where it provides high-quality fertilization. Also housed at the plant is a state-certified testing laboratory where samples are routinely tested for compliance with rigid DNR standards.

 

The lab is certified to perform tests for oxygen utilization, nitrogen and total suspended solids. The plant is required to have a Class 2 Operator, certified in primary settling, rotating biological discs, mechanical sludge, phosphorus, and laboratory procedures. The operator routinely tests samples and monitors flow. Samples are tested for biological oxygen demand, suspended solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, copper, phosphorus, zinc, lead and hardness.

 

The operator is responsible for maintaining quality assurance and quality control in the laboratory and in the testing process. Other duties include producing regular monthly reports for review by the DNR, working with DNR officials on laboratory audits, preparing the Compliance Maintenance Annual Report and various other reports, hauling and spreading sludge, maintenance of the plant building and equipment as well as meeting all DNR guidelines as required by the Wastewater Treatment Plant Discharge Permit.