JANUARY 21, 2025|
Photo – Example of sewer lift station – Bigfoot99 file photo
In Saratoga, town officials have agreed to fund a sewer expansion project at Shively Field Airport.
Last June, the Saratoga town council agreed to pay Engineering Associates $25,000 to design a new sewer lift station for the town’s airport.
At the January 7th town council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner said the lift station design work has been completed. Penner presented a $29,462 quote from Casper-based Imperial Pump Solutions for the necessary equipment needed to construct the airport lift station.
Penner said he believes the price is fair and suggested purchasing the lift station equipment from Imperial Pump Solutions. The public works director said the low water table at Shively Field means that town employees can easily install the lift station.
A sewer lift-station moves wastewater from a lower elevation to a higher elevation using pumps when a gravity-powered system can’t be used due to the terrain or distance. An underground vault is used to temporarily store wastewater, ensuring a consistent and manageable flow to the lift station pumps.
Currently, Shively Field is not connected to Saratoga’s municipal sewer system. Instead, the airport uses a leach field, where wastewater is filtered through soil and gravel.
At the January 7th Saratoga town council meeting, Airport Advisory Board member D’Ron Campbell said she was pleased that the lift station was being considered. Campbell said the original plan was to dig a tunnel under Highway 130 during a recent parking lot renovation, allowing the airport to connect to the town’s sewer main. However, the cost, estimated at around $500,000, was far too high for the project to become a reality.
Mayor Chuck Davis said the Airport Advisory Board now fully supports the installation of a lift station to supply sewer services to the aircraft hangars.
The Saratoga town council unanimously voted to pay $29,462.39 for the lift station equipment. The money will come out of the airport budget, which is funded through landing fees. Town employees are expected to begin the installation this spring.
