November 14, 2022 |
In Encampment, the recent award of a $1.4 million grant from the Wyoming State Land and Investment Board (SLIB) means the town’s lagoon improvement project will move forward.
As reported by Bigfoot 99 in June, the Encampment Town Council requested contractor bids for their lagoon upgrade project. North Fork Engineering’s Jon Nelson said the estimates they received were double the price of what was expected. Nelson recommended the town shelve the project until more funding could be found.
Pictured above: Encampment lagoon project details. Photo by Matt Copeland/Bigfoot 99.
Saratoga-based North Fork Engineering is the engineering consultant on the lagoon project.
Encampment’s lagoon system needs an upgrade to comply with state water requirements limiting organic pollution in wastewater discharge into Badger Creek. On top of that, Nelson said waste was fouling up the treatment plant’s machinery.
Encampment’s waste treatment process consists of two lagoons. Sewage enters lagoon 1, where it receives initial treatment before moving to the second, larger, lagoon where final disinfection occurs. Nelson said rags and other debris have been clogging lagoon 1’s aerator motors, causing them to fail. A screen will prevent the town from needing to replace the motors as often. Nelson said the screen is an important step in safeguarding the longevity of the system.
Adding the screen is part of Phase 1 of Encampment’s lagoon improvement project. The town is also looking to upgrade their ultraviolet disinfection system.
In its current configuration, the town has no way of measuring how much waste is entering the lagoons. Nelson said Phase 1 would resolve the lack of metering, paving the way for future improvements.
Dredging the lagoons is another aspect of the improvement project. After extensive EPA testing, the removed bio-solids would be offered to locals, free of charge. Nelson explained the dredged material is full of nutrients.
Nelson said the project’s overall goal is to improve the measuring, monitoring, and post-treatment of effluent as it is discharged from the sewer system.
The upgraded system is designed to serve the Encampment for decades. The town’s population isn’t booming, but property is selling on the outskirts of town. Nelson said his design accounts for future expansion.
The town council will hold workshop on December 15th to discuss any needed changes to the design before putting it out for bid. Cost savings will be looked at, but Nelson said the job could proceed as planned with the SLIB funding in hand.
Nelson said he hopes the town will set aside part of the $1.4 million grant for other projects. Encampment is in the process of replacing their leaky clay sewer pipes with modern plastic ones, eliminating ground water seepage into the system.
Obviously, any extra money could be used for Phase 2 of the lagoon improvement project. Nelson explained more upgrades will need to be done in lagoon 1 to meet future government regulations.
Once a contractor is found, the SLIB grant will allow Encampment to move forward with their lagoon improvement project. The upgraded design is meant to bring the town’s current system into compliance with state requirements and future-proof it against increased demand and regulations.
