“The largest single project, the Elm Street pump station replacement project, was put in this category but could be moved to the first tier due to its important effect on elimination of combined sewer overflows,” Rasmussen said.

The third tier relates to existing treatment infrastructure in need of repair and for peak flow treatment, he added.

Rasmussen said the city has a “fairly low projected population growth” but a higher commercial/industrial growth for the 20-year planning period.

ABC Bottling, one of the city’s current industries, consumes nearly 65 percent of the wastewater treatment plant’s capacity. Pretreatment for this industrial load is needed to relieve the potential plant overload and provide capacity for other residential, commercial and industrial flows.

Pretreating the industrial load means building a treatment plant at the airport, Rasmussen added.

Bruett is looking forward to the day when he has an overhead door for the building that houses the plant’s only screen, which has its own special room. The overhead door is part of the second tier of improvements.

The screen’s process of filtering the sewage is very controlled because an explosion could result.

“The air in here changes 11 times in 30 minutes,” Bruett said.

The screen is a large piece of equipment. Years ago, they constructed the building around the equipment, he added.

Although no agenda has been posted yet, the council seemed to accept the proposed plan and most likely will vote to approve it at next week’s council meeting.

Cindy Toopes can be reached at (641) 683-5376 or via e-mail at cindy@ottumwacourier.com.