A decade of investment has transformed Grand Island’s wastewater plan from stench to success and now that culminates with the completion of a new operations center.
Rachael Stramel said if the plant is working right, no one notices and that’s fine with her.
“That's the way we want it to be. If you hear about us, it's not a good thing,” said Stramel, stormwater program manager.
When John Collins became public works director, Grand Island’s sewer system was in rough shape.
“I spent my first three years in Grand Island worried we would not be able to provide service,” he said.
A major line had to be replaced and the city invested tens of millions into the headworks, where stuff comes into the plant.
The EPA also dinged the city for failing to keep up on paperwork. That’s all been addressed and now to be ready for future issues, they’ve invested $3.5 million to expand their operations center
“This is an investment, this is one of the most important things we do, in an environmentally friendly way handle wastewater. It's a public health issue. We're investing in the future,” said Mayor Roger Steele.
Stramel said they collect at least a dozen samples a day and test them for everything from bacteria to chemicals.
“The old lab was like cooking at Thanksgiving with too many people in the kitchen and this you have your own space,” she said, showing off the new lab.
The lab now has its own HVAC system to prevent cross-contamination with the rest of the building. The expanded operations center can also accommodate future growth.
Collins said, “It is very spacious but we're projecting for 50 years in the future so in ten years we don't have to add on.”
As the mayor cuts the ribbon, city leaders say they anticipate more red tape, which means more testing as regulators will likely require more of that in the future.
They also anticipate more customers – both residential and industrial. It’s also their job to make sure there’s no bacteria that’ll make anyone sick, no ammonia causing algae to bloom, and nothing harmful that goes back to the Platte River.
“Down the line it's people's drinking water,” Stramel said.
HDR Engineering designed the building and Samson Construction was the contractor.
No tax money was used but it is paid for by ratepayers.