(SIOUX CITY, IA) Construction work on Phase II of the Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant is underway as Phase I is completed after almost three years of planning and building.

The current Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in 1961. So after almost 50 years, the facility is due for an upgrade. Now the project is in the final phase of its $70 million facelift.

The Sioux City Treatment Plant takes in wastewater from five cities in three states: Sioux City, South Sioux City, North Sioux City, Dakota Dunes, and Sergeant Bluff.

"We do what natures does naturally but we just do it in a smaller footprint," says Aaron Balliet, Project Manager.

Industrial, commercial and residential waste starts in primary treatment.
 
"The headworks area of the wastewater treatment plant is really the solids removal from the water," says Ellen Myers, Sioux City Environmental Services Manager.    

After the grease and scum is removed, activated sludge treats the wastewater.

"We send them to our final clarifiers where the water gets finally polished, then it gets disinfected and sent out to the river," says Balliet.

The water is cleaner when it comes out of the facility than what's in the river.

"We remove 99.9% of the contaminants," says Balliet.

From lagoons to the landfill, advancing waste technology comes at a price.
       
"And then the newest phase, which is Phase II, is approximately $26 million cost," says Myers.

Phase II includes two more aeration basins and a new final clarifier.

"The state of Iowa has imposed new water quality standards and the city is required to meet more stringent standards with its discharge of the clean water to the Missouri River so it was a necessary rehabilitation," says Myers.

And the amount of Siouxland wastewater is not slowing down.
    
"Roughly we treat anywhere from, depending on the day, we treat about 12 to 16 million gallons a day," says Balliet.

The key to keeping the stink in check: a fully-enclosed system with room to grow.

Solids sent to the landfill are burned as methane gas to heat ethanol plants. The plant is mandated by Iowa DNR to be up and running by August 2011.

To learn more about the Sioux City Wastewater Treatment Plant, check out the website at: http://www.sioux-city.org/custom/waterplant/index.asp.

Reported by Erika Thomas. You can contact her at ethomas@kmeg.com.