The Wayland City Council heard an engineer’s update regarding sewer infrastructure at their meeting last week. Jim Warner of Warner Engineering briefed the council on his latest findings regarding the sewer improvement project for the city.
The city has been working to remain compliant with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), for renewal of their sewer permit. Wayland City Administrator Beverly Conrad says it came to the city’s attention in 2017 that without upgrades to their infrastructure they would not have their permit renewed. The city has since worked with BES Water Solutions out of Mount Pleasant on a “pilot” project to keep costs down. Through that partnership, Wayland has lined their sewers to reduce infiltration and installed an aeration and circulation system that uses heated water to treat lagoon cells with enzymes. This system has allowed the city to stay within the DNRs parameters.
Warner’s suggestion for the city is to smoke the sewers to check for ongoing infiltration issues following the sewer lining rehab project. Warner is also working with the DNR on deadline extensions.