Wastewater Utility Project and Planning Activities

Wastewater treatment plant performance must produce an effluent (the water discharged to the river) that meets all of the quality criteria as specified in the WPDES permit. One of those criteria specifies the concentration of effluent phosphorus.

Phosphorus is a nutrient which accumulates in the environment and can show-up as algae blooms on the surface of rivers and other water systems. In Wisconsin, measures to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering waterways from point sources (essentially, pipes discharging to these water systems) are imposed on cities through issuance of WPDES permits related to both treatment systems and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).

There is extensive information regarding phosphorus and phosphorus-related issues affecting Wisconsin’s water systems on DNR’s website https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Wastewater/Phosphorus.

Prior to the current WPDES permit, the effluent phosphorus limit for the City’s wastewater plant was 1.4 mg/l, based on a monthly average. With the issuance of the current permit, not only was the limit for effluent phosphorus reduced to 1.0 mg/l, but the permit also includes specific requirements and a compliance schedule for facility planning to eventually meet an effluent phosphorus limit of 0.1 mg/l. Working with an engineering consultant, the Utility has started the process of reviewing and evaluating options for meeting this much-lower water quality standard.

Additional information will become available as the Utility works through this process.

Facility planning is commonly used as the primary tool to evaluate processes or specific equipment at the wastewater treatment plant and facilities associated with the sewer collection system. Facility planning and submittal of facility plan amendments are sometimes mandatory activities required as part of the WPDES permit issued by the DNR.

The most recent facility plan for the La Crosse Sanitary Sewer Utility was completed in 2010 and reviewed and evaluated most of the systems and equipment in operation at that time. Although there was no WPDES requirement for completing this plan at the time, the completed plan provided a detailed report of the “health” of the wastewater plant and resulted in recommendations for projects and improvements to enhance plant performance, reliability and efficiency. The completed facility plan was submitted to the DNR for their comments and files.

Some system enhancements identified in the facility plan have already been implemented, and more projects are underway or planned. Other, more detailed and in-depth studies, for example, effluent phosphorus compliance, are also underway as part of the Utility’s ongoing planning process.

Future projects are identified as part of a long-term plan as shown on the current proposed Capital Improvement Plan Budget.

• Current - GIS reimplementation and building out the mapping attributes
• 2026 - WWTP Office Space and Admin Remodel
• 2026 - Hagar and Pammel Creek Sanitary lift station upgrades
  • Pumps and Controls
  • The Hagar Left Station pumps all the sewage from the North Side of La Crosse, City of Onalaska, Industrial Park/Kwik Trip production and Town of Campbell
• 2027 - UV Disinfection upgrade at the WWTP
• • To start after disinfection season 2027 and be completed before May 1, 2028, disinfection season
• 2028 - Finish Sewer Interceptor rehabilitation from Division St to Isle La Plume/WWTP