By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
With long-range efficiency in mind, Whitewater officials are looking into the prospect of upgrading the city’s existing sanitary sewer system. The cost of such a project, however, remains up for debate.
The city has contracted with civil engineering firm Baxter and Woodman to make recommendations on the upgrade. Representatives of the firm provided an update at a Common Council meeting Oct. 21.
Gary Vogel, a project manager with Baxter and Woodman, said the company’s review process included an examination of the city’s existing infrastructure, as well as a series of recommendations.
The review includes a look at each of the city’s 1,157 manholes and all piping within the existing sewer system, which spans 52 miles.
In terms of energy-efficient upgrades, Vogel said, “It’s going to save you money in the long run, and it’s going to reduce the number of citations you might possibly receive.”
Throughout the recent discussion, Vogel discussed inflow and infiltration — technical terminology used to describe how ground water and storm water enter into wastewater and sanitary sewer systems.
In terms of upgrades, Vogel suggested the city consider integrating a flow monitoring system into existing infrastructure so city crews can more accurately gauge whether any improvements are needed in the city system.
Tim Reel, superintendent of Whitewater’s wastewater treatment plant, said spending money up front could prove beneficial in the long run. He pointed out the plant is among the city’s largest assets, in terms of monetary value.
“I think we need to keep up with this asset that we’re speaking of,” Reel said. “I think it’s fair to say we should put some time and energy into taking care of this.”
Plans call for further discussion and possible action at an upcoming council meeting.
