Wastewater Treatment

The City of Reedsburg wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) treats the municipal and industrial wastewater collected by the sewerage system. The original secondary treatment plant was based around a trickling filter and anaerobic digester designed and built in 1939. The plant was subsequently modified in 1969 with the addition of activated sludge basins after the trickling filter, and again in 1983 when an intermediate clarifier, an additional final clarifier, and a new anaerobic digester were added. Additional modifications were made in 1990 when the chlorine disinfection was changed to ultraviolet disinfection. In 1996 sludge dewatering and lime stabilization equipment was installed that replaced the liquid sludge hauling previously employed at the facility, and in 2000 the dewatering unit was replaced with a dewatering centrifuge producing higher solids content.

In 2002 the anaerobic digesters were converted to sludge holding tanks to provide storage for the feed to the lime stabilization system. In 2005 and 2006 most every element of the WWTP was reconstructed or replaced except for the more modern sludge handling equipment. One of the sewer interceptor mains was also replaced allowing the city to eliminate the one troublesome lift station on South James Avenue. A new lift station was also built on Granite Avenue. The new plant is designed to serve a population of more than 10,000 people with a capacity of 2.6 MGD. In 2013 a new dewatering centrifuge was installed and the centrifuge that was installed in 2000 was rebuilt to handle more solids. A new lime stabalization system was also installed in 2013

The picture above shows our plant during the flood of 2008. This was a very tough time for the City and its residents, as you can see. It's hard to believe, but within three weeks after this picture was taken we had the plant up and running. Picture was taken June 10, 2008, and the plant was running with treatment on June 25, 2008.