Construction is ongoing on the new $70.4 million Wastewater Treatment Facility and Conveyance System improvements for the City of Willmar, Minnesota. When complete, the new treatment plant will replace the existing aging 70- year-old plant and will meet the needs of the existing and future more stringent water quality needs for the City of Willmar. The plant is designed to treat up to 27 million gallons of wastewater per day, which will allow it to meet the needs of projected growth in the service area for the next 20 years.
Donohue & Associates, Inc. is currently providing construction-related and program management services for the City and has been providing program management, planning and design services for the project since 2005.
Background Information
This project supports the USEPA's goal to improve water quality in the Mississippi River by reducing levels of ammonia and phosphorus within the watershed. This project replaces aging and failed treatment technology. Most notably, the Clean Water Act of 1987 states that “the U.S. EPA Administrator is authorized to make a grant to fund all of the costs of the modification or replacement of biodisc equipment (rotating biological contactors) in any publicly-owned treatment works” provided a number of conditions are met. Unfortunately, the U.S. Congress did not provide a separate pool of funding for these grants and the conditions require that modification or replacement occur early in the facility life.
The existing WWTF is the second highest point source contributor of phosphorus (14%) to the Minnesota River. The existing WWTF does not have the technology to remove or treat for phosphorus. The new WWTF will contain the technology needed to reduce the levels of phosphorus discharged by 90 percent, thereby improving water quality to the lower Minnesota River watershed at Shakopee. This will also help improve the water quality as the Minnesota River drains to the Mississippi River and will help reduce the overall phosphorus loading to Lake Pepin.
Willmar is a commercial and medical center supporting west central Minnesota rural/agricultural communities with goods and services. The proposed project will provide infrastructure to support the regional community. Approximately one-half of the people who work in Willmar live outside the City. This project opens the possibility of development of a regional waste treatment facility that can allow smaller communities to join in Willmar’s efforts to clean the environment with proven treatment infrastructure for continued regional growth.
Program Funding
With a total project cost of $86,218,712, the City of Willmar has obtained funding assistance from various sources in order to ensure the project maintains local affordability for its residents. Donohue has been instrumental in obtaining funding for the project. According to Rhonda Rae, Willmar Program Manager, the project is funded by the following sources:
FEDERAL FUNDS
Clean Water Revolving Fund Loan - $75,225,000
EPA State and Tribal Assistance Grant - $800,000
STATE FUNDS
Wastewater Infrastructure Fund Loan - $7,000,000
Total Maximum Daily Load Grant - $2,693,000
LOCAL FUNDS
City – WTP Reserves - $500,812
In 2007 the Water Resources Development Act authorized $15,000,000. On behalf of the City of Willmar, Donohue has submitted a request for a $15,000,000 appropriation in the Energy and Water Appropriations Act. Donohue continues to seek funding for the program thereby reducing the loan amount in addition to the individual sewer customers’ rates.
Construction Progress
Concrete forming and pouring is currently underway on nearly all of the 21 structures on the site of the new Wastewater Treatment Facility. The plant project is ahead of schedule and on budget.
The conveyance portion of the program includes the installation of seven tunnels under railroads and major highways, three by guided boring method, four jack and bores, and approximately 1,700 lineal feet of directional drilling. The project includes approximately 35,584 lineal feet of 36-, 48- and 54-inch diameter gravity sewer; 25,986 lineal feet of 8- and 16-inch diameter forcemain; and 3,210 lineal feet of 54-inch diameter outfall sewer.
The program is scheduled to wrap up in 2011 with the decommissioning of the existing plant. The contractor for the new Wastewater Treatment Facility is Graham Construction Services, Inc. Conveyance contractors are S.R. Weidema, Inc. and Voss Plumbing and Heating, Inc.
To view additional pictures of construction progress, visit the City of Willmar’s website at: www.ci.willmar.mn.us.
