Reed City Wastewater plant cleaning up

REED CITY - Things are getting back to working order about a month after Reed City's Wastewater Treatment Plant began facing a myriad of problems.

Plant Superintendent Don Row said conditions are "improving considerably" since he reported the problems to Reed City City Council on March 15. Breakdowns started in the latter part of February and caused 13 violations within the month - the highest number of violations it has seen in at least 15 months.

Row told city council his lack of communication with three other plant operators and a slow reaction to recorded numbers were the key factors to the breakdown of the plant's capacity.

Row contributes the plant's condition to several factors including an equalization basin that was out of service due to the Yoplait dedicated sewer line project.

"As of yesterday (Thursday), we brought the equalization basin back online and it is filling as we speak," Row said.

Cold weather caused storage problems at the plant which ran out of room to put sludge. The plant also experienced problems with equipment failures and an influx in organic loads.

Organic loads reached levels over the plant's design capacity because of an influx from its suppliers. The plant treats waste from Reed City, leachate from the local landfill and cherry waste from Traverse City and Yoplait. Yoplait accounts for more than half of the plant's volume. On average, the plant accepts 600,000 gallons of total waste a day.

Plant violations were noticeable to area residents because of the stench wafting across U.S. 10, which runs just north of the plant.

Row said the plant still has a digest of not the best sludge but is trying to minimize the smell by adding a blower. The sequencing batch reactors had potentially high solid levels which contributed significantly to the smell.

"We have a lot of smell on the SBRs and they are coming around as of yesterday (Wednesday)," he said. Two of the three sequencing batch rectors are back online with the hope the third will be up and running soon.

Officials with the DEQ have been in contact with Row to be certain the plant is getting back to working order. Should violations continue and the plant not appear to be making progress, it could be fined. Row said he does not foresee that happening.