Council approves $5.08M sewer and lift‑station contract; members press for odor controls

The Bellevue City Council approved Item 16N on Feb. 17, awarding the notice of award and contract to Valley Corporation for construction of a sanitary sewer and lift station to serve the planned water park and Prairie Hills development in an amount not to exceed $5,083,492.36.

Councilman Preister and others raised community concerns about odors in the corridor and asked staff about measures to avoid or mitigate impacts. Preister noted local complaints about odors associated with nearby processing facilities and asked what the city can do to "not have some of the odors we have." Staff explained some of the causes behind sewer odors — chiefly anaerobic conditions and gases produced when sewage remains in pipes for long periods — and said that because the new lift station will serve a shorter flow distance it should produce less potent gas emissions than longer trunk lines. Staff also described common plant controls such as covered anaerobic digesters and oxygen injection at treatment plants to reduce gas production.

Council members discussed coordination with Omaha and regional sewer operators, the need to monitor complaints and pursue technical mitigations, and an upcoming environmental task force meeting in May where the topic will be discussed further. Council unanimously approved the award and contract during the meeting.

The project is intended to serve the water park and adjacent Prairie Hills development; staff said the new infrastructure will reduce time-in‑pipe compared with downstream conveyance and that modern construction should help limit the corrosion and odors associated with older pipes. Next steps include contract execution and construction mobilization under standard city oversight and reporting.