08/18/2020- Even without a firm reimbursement agreement, Marinette is moving forward with the purchase of new equipment to process and dispose of the city’s wastewater biosolids. The city intends to acquire a grinder, press, dryer, and storage facility for PFAS-contaminated biosolids which would then eventually be transferred to a landfill in Oregon or Canada. The total cost is estimated to be between $1 million and $1.2 million and while JCI/Tyco had previously committed to funding the project, the company and the City have yet to hash out a final contract for it. Water and Wastewater Operations Manager Warren Howard told the Water and Wastewater Utilities Commissions Monday that they will continue to seek reimbursement, but a million gallons of biosolids in the existing storage tank and an additional 10000 gallons coming into their facility daily, they need to move forward with the project one way or another.

Howard and other staff recently traveled to New Hampshire to see the equipment in action. He says it’s relatively new technology, with just a handful of locations in the U.S. using it.

The Commissions jointly approved the purchase of the new processing equipment, with the money to come from the Wastewater Capital replacement fund if necessary. Howard predicts it will likely still be another 4 to 6 months until that is in place.