The major focus of the Tuesday, March 24 Hart City Council meeting revolved around the city’s BioPure Treatment Plant quarterly and annual updates, presented by the facility superintendent, Paul Cutter.
In the last year, the BioPure Plant reports that about 303 million gallons traveled through the city’s wastewater system, around 832,000 gallons daily, with the plant seeing a gradual increase in volume in the last several years. It was also noted that 185 million gallons of this total gross come from just two industrial facilities in Hart, Seneca Foods and Michigan Freeze Pack Co., accounting for 59% of what flows into wastewater treatment.
Alongside an increase in total annual gallons, likewise, total revenue from the industries utilizing the plant has also increased, with Seneca and Michigan Freeze Pack paying yearly invoices of $921,000 and $702,000, respectively, to Hart BioPure. Regarding the increase, Cutter pointed out that “this is just an indication of how much the industry is really part of that wastewater plant" and showcases the necessity of effective wastewater management in any future industry growth. However, the yearly increase in volume can be problematic, as there is a finite amount of water the plant can handle.
Similarly, the BioPure Plant is busy running bacteria sample testing for accounts across multiple Michigan counties, as well as Oceana, with about 72 active accounts. Last year Hart BioPure tested about 1,402 samples, which brings in extra revenue. Septage dumping has also accounted for extra revenue coming into the plant.
Cutter also discussed the recent plant expansion, which he reiterated was necessary due to previous limitations and reducing the strain of increased system use. Additions to the plant include new grit and sand cleaning systems, structures to house the new systems, and new and modified holding tanks. Benefits to the expansion include reducing blockages, removing sand from the system, handling more fluids, greater storage of biosolids, keeping odors down, adhering to EGLE guidelines and providing the city the ability to support current and future industries.
The project cost totaled $13,067,000, of which $6,892,000 was paid through grant funding. One unexpected expense was the replacement of a pipe essential to the functioning of the plant’s new systems, amounting to about $480,000 extra. Due to the relative age of the pipe, installed initially in 2000, the rapid degradation was unexpected, and Cutter cited improper installation as the cause.
Cutter also shared BioPure’s future outlook, as well as that of the wastewater world in general. Topics for concern at the forefront of field seminars include microplastics, pharmaceutical drugs, and PHAs removal - though Cutter assures the latter is not a major concern for Hart at the moment.
For Hart BioPure specifically, Cutter’s main goal is reducing the amount of cost of biosolid removal from the plant. In this pursuit, Hart BioPure has been utilizing an experimental wastewater treatment system from Eden Lakes Biosolution, which has so far yielded promising results in significantly decreasing biosolids. As explained, the Eden Lakes’ PrO₂ system works to reduce biosolids by oxygenizing the holding tank water more efficiently and at a greater amount, promoting increased microorganism consumption of solids. As Hart BioPure is the only plant using the PrO₂ system, it has become the subject of a case study, bringing interest to the facility throughout the wastewater world.
Despite the initial success, Cutter remains cautiously optimistic, explaining his hesitation is because "we are the only ones doing it. We’re the only ones that have done it…”
However, while it still seems “too good to be true" Cutter said he "keeps trying to prove it wrong, and it hasn’t yet.” One thing that remains very clear about the use of the system is the reduced need for biosolid removal. Even factoring in the $24,000 a month paid to use the PrO₂ system, Hart BioPure is well on the way to being $200,000 under the annual budget for biosolid removal.
Outside of BioPure’s report, the Hart City Council was made aware of a violation notice given by the city to Frontier Communications for “widespread safety hazards, clearance violations, unmaintained facilities and improperly abandoned infrastructures,” as well as improperly labeled communications lines throughout Hart. Frontier is responsible for correcting these violations, all located within the city’s critical right-of-way infrastructure.
Hart City is continuing seeking bids for the road realignment of Plum Street in preparation for the Safe Routes to School construction project. Bids will be accepted through April 15 and presented to the council for approval at their April 21 meeting.
