Updated treatment plant officially dedicated

In a small maintenance building on the grounds of the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant Thursday, plant employees and city officials gathered to recognize the completion of a $11.5 million update that will double the plant's conversion capacity.

Renovations began in 2003 to the plant, which treats water for 80 percent of Carbondale including the University. Mayor Brad Cole, who dedicated the plant, said the updates were needed in preparation for future population growth in the city.

"We are trying to build new homes in Carbondale," Cole said. "We need the public works to accommodate that. We are taking a proactive approach." To pay for the project, City Manager Jeff Doherty said the city acquired a water pollution control revolving loan from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. The city increased sewer bills in 30-cent increments over the past three years to pay back the loan, bringing the total sewer cost to $3.23 per 1,000 gallons.

Doherty said they wanted to gradually increase the bills to make the overall increase easier on the citizens. He said the increase amounted to about a $5.40 increase in the average monthly bill. Plant Superintendent Kendall Doty said the amount of wastewater the plant can convert into clean water has doubled since the update of the plant. Before, it converted about 3.9 million gallons of water per day and now averages 6 million gallons per day with the ability to convert 12 million gallons per day. In addition to the added capacity, Doty said there is also much more that can be done with the new facilities.

"I've got a lot more versatility," Doty said. "It's a more modern economic process." Some of the additions to the plant include a new electrical building that allows the plant to power itself and a bar screen building that stops all debris larger than a quarter of an inch from running through the plant. Additionally, Doty said they now have controls that allow them to continually monitor and control the plant from one location.

Doty said the plant, which was originally built in 1971, was last updated during the '80s. He said the updates usually last for 20 to 25 years before they are outdated. "It was due for an overhaul," Doty said. "It's basically a new plant. It should last for 20 more years or so."

While the plant was under construction, Doty said they were able to use the old facilities to go about normal business. The plant is not running at full capacity with the new facilities yet, as they have still been going through test runs, but Doty said it won't be long until the new plant is completely up and running.

"Were still testing it out," Doty said. "So far, it has run real smooth."