The City of Faribault, Minnesota officially broke ground for their new $26.5 million Water Reclamation Facility during a Ground Breaking Celebration held on Tuesday, August 11, 2009. The City of Faribault Mayor John Jasinski served as Master of Ceremonies.

Representatives of the Faribault City Council, City Officials, Construction Contractor, participating Government Agencies, Consulting Engineers, and Donohue & Associates were in attendance for the event.

Due to the continued community growth, upcoming phosphorus regulations, and an aging facility, the City of Faribault is undergoing an extensive upgrade of its existing facilities. The existing plant currently serves a combination of residential, commercial, public, and industrial users. The treatment facility was originally constructed in 1954 and has had several upgrades.

Although well maintained and operated, the existing facility has a multitude of age-related issues that have the potential to jeopardize consistent long-term permit compliance. This project will address those issues, implement a phosphorus removal treatment step, and convert the disinfection process from chlorine gas to a safer technology, ultraviolet light (UV).

The City took a very active role in obtaining government stimulus money and low interest loans from the State of Minnesota and the Federal Government. The overwhelming majority of this project will be constructed using American-made materials and equipment.

Construction is expected to be completed by December 2011.