Village begins to explore funding options for treatment plant work

Starting next year, the Village of Saukville will need to make a large investment into its wastewater treatment plant to meet state guidelines, but it won’t hurt the village’s budget as much as might be expected, officials were told last week.

During an informational presentation, Village Board members were told improvements to the plant could cost as much as $6 million, but a loan forgiveness program would likely cut the actual loan amount in half.

With other debt ready to be retired, the debt incurred to improve the plant could be absorbed without seriously affecting the village bottom line, officials said.

“Things are lining up very nicely,” Dave Arnott, with Ruekert and Mielke Inc. consultants, told the board.

The improvements are needed to meet state Department of Natural Resources restrictions on the amount of phosphorus put into local waterways.

The DNR imposed tougher restrictions on municipalities and other “point sources” in 2010. 

The state Department of Administration has estimated that businesses and municipalities will have to spend at least $3.45 billion statewide to comply.

In 2016, the DNR concluded that 41% of more than 7,700 waters in the state violated standards for phosphorus contamination.

High levels of phosphorus cause algae to bloom in lakes, streams and rivers. One pound of phosphorus can cause 500 pounds of algae to grow, according to environmentalists.

With DNR compliance deadlines looming, it’s time to make improvements on the plant, officials said. “We’re reaching a critical point where some decisions have to be made,” Arnott said.

Village Board members are expected to discuss the matter when they meet on Aug. 18 and as they begin crafting the 2021 budget.