DNR Orders Northwestern Wisconsin City To Upgrade Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is ordering a community on the shore of Lake Superior to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant.

The DNR reviewed Washburn’s treatment system after an unknown toxin caused the city to violate sewage discharge limits. The DNR just issued a five-year permit for the facility.

DNR wastewater engineer Eric DeVenecia said they required the city to report problems that may have been a factor.

“They’ve submitted that report. Now, they’re doing the construction to resolve those,” said DeVenecia.

The roughly 20-year-old plant needs repairs. Washburn City Administrator Scott Kluver said the city is taking out a loan and increasing its levy to fund them.

“They’re going to help the flow in the plant when we have large rain events or storm events, so that we don’t have as many overflows,” said Kluver.

Repairs are expected to run $750,000. Kluver said that about $325,000 will come from a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers grant. Construction is slated for the spring.