Water and sewer report: tests clear, thickener ordered; digester pump replacement proposed

At the Board of Public Works meeting, Water and Sewer operations staff reported that recent lead and copper samples returned without exceedances, meaning the system likely does not need to test again for three years. Gabe, who delivered the operations report, told the board: "There was no high results or anything, so we're really good in there. So we shouldn't have to test for 3 more years."

Gabe also reported that a thickener has been ordered and staff hope it will arrive before winter. On wastewater operations, staff described three 1991 digester pumps and recommended replacing one pump and adding mixing ability so the utility can process biosolids in-house. Gabe contrasted prior clean-out costs of about $35,000 with a recent contractor estimate of $115,000 and said the proposed change would allow the utility to "do it on our own, report it to the DNR," reducing reliance on costly contractors.