Melinda Harger, Utilities Engineer for the City of Lawrence, reported on the progress of the 74.1 million dollar construction of the new Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Project. The project, the largest ever undertaken by the City, was identified in the 2003 Utilities Master Plan to address the needs of a growing community. The plan was intended to mitigate wet weather surcharging of the 31st Street corridor, reduce wet weather overloading of the existing treatment plant, provide 20 percent growth capacity, and to address new environmental regulations. Elements of the plan include a new wastewater treatment plant, a new pump station, and improvements to the existing plant. An authorizing resolution passed in 2007, but the project was put on hold a few months later due to the nationwide economic downturn. The project was taken up again in 2012 and the RFP process and bidding soon followed. The extensive project required a team of contractors who are working closely with the Utilities Department of the City. The project site at 31st and Louisiana required considerable site preparation, including earthwork and access roads. The permit process was complicated, as some 60 were required, as much of the area is a wetland. The city worked closely with the Baker Wetlands, adding enhancements such as trail and parking lot construction as part of an easement agreement. The plant is expected to be up and running by March of 2018. The new Lawrence plant is projected to serve as a model for other communities for handling wastewater and meeting new regulations. For more information on the project contact Melinda Harger at City Hall.
