Coggon officials learned its wastewater treatment system was not meeting discharge limits. Contamination levels were above Iowa Department of Natural Resources requirements. The City was given an administrative consent order to make the treatment plant compliant with the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit or face a $5,000-per-day fine.
Fehr Graham created a system that removed contamination being released into the water and surrounding ecosystems. This resulted in cleaner, safer water, which has a lower impact on the environment.
The treatment plant will now help the City keep user fees at a reasonable rate without compromising the quality of the wastewater treatment. The project was completed 12 percent under the preliminary budget estimate.