NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The month of October marked the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act. City of Hutchinson Public Works Director Brian Clennan told Hutch Post that the people responsible for keeping Hutchinson's wastewater clean are working hard to do so.
"Right now, our wastewater treatment plant is fully staffed," said Public Works Director Brian Clennan. "Some of those folks have been there a year or under, but we do have some veterans out there, as well. On our sewer collection side, we are short one employee."
Significant work is continuing to be done on the wastewater system in Hutchinson.
"In 2018, we completed a facility planning study for the wastewater treatment facility," Clennan said. "To date, we've completed about $4.5 million of projects out there. We've got another $2.75 million in lift station improvements that we're going to be making throughout the collection system and then another $800,000 project that we're going to be improving out at the head works facility, to improve some of the grit removal, basically replace some of that grit removal equipment that's at the end of its useful life."
To pay for continued improvements, there will be increases on sewer rates coming.
"Probably in late November or early December, I'll be bringing the rate increase resolution to the city council for consideration," Clennan said. "As part of the budget process back in May, the council authorized us to move forward with those rate increases."
The City of Hutchinson Wastewater Treatment Facility (WWTF) is located south of Highway 50 on South Halstead Street. The treatment allows the recycled waste water to be returned to the Arkansas River without harm to aquatic life or the environment.
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