Backup power source installed at sewer plant

A new one megawatt diesel generator was lifted into place by cranes at Decatur’s wastewater treatment plant on Thursday. The large tank in the foreground of the picture is the generator’s muffler.

A new one megawatt diesel generator was lifted into place by cranes at Decatur’s wastewater treatment plant on Thursday. The large tank in the foreground of the picture is the generator’s muffler.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

— A new generator was installed at the Decatur wastewater treatment plant last week.

The giant one megawatt diesel generator will keep the wastewater treatment plant running in the event of a power outage and will keep the city in compliance with its Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality permit.

The generator holds 3,800 gallons of diesel fuel and is capable of powering the wastewater treatment plant for up to a week, according to city utilities director James Boston.

The generator was paid for with a $265,000 grant administered by the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. The city contributed about $60,000 to the cost.

It was lifted into place last Thursday using cranes, and the work to wire it into the plant’s electrical system will begin this week, Boston said. Hardware to connect it to the plant’s electrical system is already in place and the generator is designed to automatically turn on in case of a power outage, he said.

News, Pages 5 on 09/19/2012