VERMILION — After years of larger wastewater discussions, Vermilion is now moving forward with immediate repairs at its existing treatment plant because some work can no longer wait.
Mayor Russ Owens outlined the repairs during Monday’s Vermilion City Council meeting, explaining that long-term options are still being reviewed, but the city must address urgent needs at the current plant to keep it operating safely.
Owens said three projects are already underway:
- A new transfer switch, which allows the plant to switch to backup power during an outage. Owens said the existing switch is so outdated that replacement parts had previously been sourced online. The cost is about $36,000.
- Electrical thermal imaging, which will help identify overheating or failing components before they break. The cost is about $12,500.
- Sealing leaking areas around the plant’s maintenance and HVAC sections, where rainwater has been getting into the building. The cost is about $18,000.
Additional Repairs Identified
Beyond the immediate work, Owens outlined a broader list of repairs that may be needed as the city evaluates the plant’s condition.
Most of the remaining work falls into a few basic categories: electrical upgrades, tanks that separate waste from water, air systems that help break down waste and equipment that removes debris before treatment begins.
The estimated future costs include:
- Electrical system upgrades: about $165,000
- Primary clarifier work: $475,000 to $700,000
- Final clarifier work: $800,000 to $1.4 million
- Airlift sludge return upgrades: $450,000 to $600,000
- Air line repairs and leak sealing: $150,000 to $200,000
- Bar screen replacement: $400,000 to $500,000
- Aeration tank improvements: about $300,000
Why the Repairs Cannot Wait
Owens told council that the immediate repairs are needed regardless of what long-term option the city eventually chooses. The larger regional discussions, including possible connections with other wastewater systems, remain long-term solutions. In the meantime, the current plant must continue operating. If all identified repairs were completed, total costs could range between $3 million and $4.5 million, but city officials have not committed to completing every project immediately.
“The real work that is required, regardless of those future solutions, is to make immediate and necessary improvements and upgrades to our existing plant,” Owens said.