Laserfiche WebLink
<br />774-6021 MAIER STEWART ASSOC. <br /> <br />123 P03 <br /> <br />APR 21' 93 .. 15 : ~3 <br /> <br />Mr. Klaers <br />Apri119, 1993 <br />Page 1Wo <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />As we discussed before, the U.S. Census predicted the population growth rate in the City of Elk <br />River to be 3 to 5 percent annually until the Year 2000. The 2.2 MGD treatment capacity was <br />estimated based on a 4 percent annual growth rate for the Year 2012 and the 3.0 MGD capacity <br />was based on a 5 percent annual growth rate. We recommend the treatment plant be expanded <br />to a 2.2 MGD capacity with the trickling filter/solids contact process. Construction cost for the <br />proposed plant is about $5,335,000. <br /> <br />Although the conventional activated sludge system has several advantages in its operational <br />flexibility and reliability, the system is expensive and complicated to operate. The existing plant <br />has experienced many operational problems and major equipment breakdowns with the RBC <br />system. Similar problems have also been ~enced in many other RBC facilities in the <br />country. New design parameters have been developed to try to avoid those problems. The <br />construction cost for the RBC plant using those parameters turns out to not be cost effective. <br />The trickling futer/solids contact (TF/SC) process has been very successful in many installations. <br />Mr. Mack and MSA staff visited the Litchfield V4Stewater treatment plant this past February. <br />The operators were all satisfied with the TF/SC process. Among the three processes studied, <br />the TF/SC process is the most cost-effective alternative and the most preferred treatment process . <br />as indicated by Mr. Mack. <br /> <br />As shown in Exhibit 1, the construction cost difference between the 2.2 MGD and the 3.0 MGD <br />plants is substantial. From the treatment process point of view, low sewage flows often create <br />a detrimental effect in a large plant, particularly for the trickling f1lters where bacteria on the <br />media may suffer from insufficient wetting and "food" due to a low flow. Current wastewater <br />flow received at the treatment plant is about 0.57 MGD. Expanding the treatment capacity to <br />2.2 MGD would provide reasonable operation during the start-up of the new plant. Additional <br />capacity can be added 15 or 20 years later if needed. <br /> <br />If Otsego.s sewage were to be treated at the Elk River WWTP, the capacity of this expansion <br />would need to be increased by 0.35 MGD (according to their consultant) to 2.55 MGD. In <br />addition to the additional construction cost due to a larger capacity plant, Orsego would also be <br />responsible for its sewage metering and sampling costs, as well as a share of the value of the <br />existing facilities. It is estimated that, excluding the lift station and forcemain from Otsego to <br />Elk River, the cost for the City of Otsego would be approximately $1,155,000 (as shown in <br />Exhibit 2) which is significantly higher than what was estimated in Otsego's 1990 study report. <br />Part of the reason is due to the more extensive treatment facilities being designed in Elk River <br />to comply with a more stringent effluent limitation. Annual operation and maintenance (0 & M) <br />cost to the City of Otsego is estimated at $1.40 per 1000 gallons of sewage treated based on <br />1988 cost accounting records. Future charges to Otsego should be calculated and adjusted each <br />year from the actual expenses and volume of wastewater received. . <br /> <br />l(l.lcnl_ <br />