Skip to content Skip to main navigation Skip to footer

Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades

June 21, 2023 in Current Projects

The Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade is a $60 million project that will address critical wastewater infrastructure needs, environmental compliance, and utility resilience. Phase 1 of this upgrade will include replacement of the Water Treatment Plant’s headworks, add a chemically enhanced primary treatment process that will receive stormwater flow, prevent untreated discharges to the Pecatonica river and raw sewage leaks in maintenance areas, replace obsolete laboratory and sampling testing equipment, eliminate chlorination disinfection byproducts, and transition to a new UV disinfection of wastewater effluent. Addressing these challenges and making necessary improvements is crucial to ensure environmental compliance and maintain the operations of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The City of Freeport prioritizes maintaining critical infrastructure that supports the community’s life and health, while also protecting the environment.

FUNDING
This project is funded through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s State Revolving Fund for $59,770,750. The City of Freeport received a 30-year loan term for 0.73% interest. With the help of engineering & environmental firm Fehr Graham, the City received $5,000,000 in forgivable loan funds towards the project. To pay for this project, City utility user rates were increased through City Council approval and user rates are anticipated to start in September 2023.

PROJECT TIMELINE
The Wastewater Treatment Plant project is anticipated to start in the fall of 2023. Construction is estimated to take 3 years to complete. IHC Construction Companies from Elgin, IL was awarded the low bid contractor. Fehr Graham is the Construction Engineer and Project Manager for this project.

KEY PROJECT COMPONENTS

  1. Deep Headworks Facility with debris screening, pumping units and grit removal systems
  2. Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment Structure to provide treatment to excess overflows during high flow storm events
  3. UV Disinfection Channel Facility for final disinfection of the plants treated effluent before discharge to the Pecatonica River
  4. Laboratory, Administration, and Operations Utility Control Center Building for wastewater advanced testing required by USEPA
  5. Concrete Inflow Junction Boxes Structures
  6. Major Electrical Upgrades
  7. SCADA Communication Monitoring and Alarm Systems
  8. Several Demolitions
Back to top