- September 7, 2024
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Bunnell is breaking ground on the first upgrade to its wastewater treatment plant in 20 years.
The plant was originally built in the 1970s and the planned expansion will double its treatment capacity from 0.500 million gallons per day to 1.200 million gallons per day, according to a Bunnell press release. The last upgrade the plant received was in 2004, when the the city added the oxidation ditch and the reuse ground storage tank, which allowed the facility to produce reclaimed water.
The expansion provides a solid foundation for Bunnell's infrastructure, the press release said. Mayor Catherine Robinson called the expansion the city's "next step toward progress."
"This is a testament to what we can achieve as we work together for the city of Bunnell and it underscores our commitment to preparing for Bunnell’s growth, progress, and continued excellence," Robinson said.
The companies PC Construction and CPH Consulting will be working on the expansion. Beside doubling its treatment capacity, the expansion will also "essentially eliminate all wet-weather discharges, thus significantly reducing Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus loads to our receiving waters," the press release said.
Bunnell currently discharges a cumulative annual total of 6011.5 pounds of Total Nitrogen and 721.5 pounds per year of Total Phosphorus.
Access to clean, healthy water is one of the most basic and fundamental necessities for all human activity," the press release said. :Protecting the systems that treat wastewater and provide water is imperative to the stability and health of our community and is the number one mission for the City’s Water and Wastewater Departments."