ADEQ visits sewer plant

City must comply with EPA regulations, hopeful its plant can

Larry Buffer, Gravette wastewater plant operator, explains recent test results with ADEQ officials on the right, Ryan Benefield, Moe Shafi and John Bailey. Council member John Rambadt and Mayor Byron look on.
Larry Buffer, Gravette wastewater plant operator, explains recent test results with ADEQ officials on the right, Ryan Benefield, Moe Shafi and John Bailey. Council member John Rambadt and Mayor Byron look on.

— The city of Gravette received some encouragement from representatives of the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality last Tuesday when representatives from the agency toured the Gravette wastewater treatment plant.

Moe Shafi, John Bailey and Ryan Benefield toured the facility and were complimentary of its operation.

“You’ve done a great job of getting the plant in good operating order,” was one remark.

The men also outlined requirements the city must meet to solve the problem of complying with phosphorus and nitrate limits in the discharge effluent.

The lagoon-type facility was constructed more than 30 years ago and at that time met all state and federal requirements. Nitrates and phosphorus were not even considered at the time but have become a great problem for systems all over the country in meeting EPA standards.

It has been determined that the existing plant functions properly, but to comply will either require modification of the operation or construction of a new plant. Either remedy could cost from $5 to $6 million, it has been estimated.

Such a cost, to meet the obligation of construction bond payments, would result in drastic increases in customers’ monthly bills, some estimates as much as $30-$40 minimum charges.

City officials, led by Mayor Byron Warren, have been researching for months on away to find a less expensive solution which possibly could save the city millions of dollars and customers inflated monthly bills.

Tour of the Facility

The three ADEQ men, joined by several city officials and employees, walked around several of the four large lagoons and toured the treatment plant building before discussing their findings and recommendations.

A 30-plus minute friendly meeting at the city hall included frank and positive suggestions and feedback. It was noted the plant has been meeting all required discharge limits for several months according to an independent testing lab. Discharge of effluent is now done on a daily basis, as the plant was designed, rather than three or four times a year. Daily discharge is slightly more than 60,000 gallons per day.

Unfortunately, cold weather has a negative effect on controlling the nitrates and phosphorus in the effluent and the coming winter months could put the plant discharge out of compliance with EPA requirements.

Mayor Warren and wastewater operator Larry Buffer explained that one possible solution is to “hold” the liquid in the ponds during the coldest months for later discharge. It appears there is enough capacity to do this if ADEQ would approve the plan.

Another idea is to cover the largest pond with a “greenhouse effect” cover to help the liquid maintain a higher temperature which would allow the phosphorus and nitrate level to be met.

“We (the ADEQ) don’t care how you get a plan in place,” a spokesman said. He then added, “There’s lotsof technology out there.”

Solving that problem and repairing several leaks in the retaining ponds are the two major concerns facing the city. Estimates are being sought to remedy the leakage problem.

The city is expecting to meet with engineer Joe Tarvin in an attempt to find a modification plan, possibly the “greenhouse” system, which he could certify as a workable solution. Certification is a requirement whatever plan is eventually developed.

“I still think we can find a solution (that will save the city and citizens money),” Buffer said.

Gravette is being given time to pursue a solution and communication between all the parties will continue so that a workable solution can be found - hopefully, one that will be at the least possible cost to the city.

News, Pages 2 on 09/28/2011