SHELBY — The Shelby Wastewater Treatment Plant processes about 1.9 million gallons of wastewater per day.
A Class 3 facility, the plant processes an annual volume of 800 million gallons, according to the city’s website.
Shelby City Council approved legislation Monday regarding a future sludge and septage dewatering project at the London West Road facility.
Councilmembers agreed to enter into a professional services agreement with Avetin Engineering, Ltd., who was selected by a review panel to provide its engineering services for the project.
Avetin’s services will cost the city a maximum expenditure of $182,500 — which led Shelby lawmakers to approve a loan application Monday to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.
The Ohio EPA’s Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance is accepting applications — such as Shelby’s — for Water Pollution Control Loan Fund projects.
Shelby has requested $182,500 from the Ohio EPA’s DEFA to secure future funding for the design phase of the activated sludge and septage dewatering press project.
Dewatering press could create revenue for city’s sewer fund
According to the city’s website, Shelby has over 70 miles of sewer lines and 1,300 manholes that make up the wastewater collection system.
The Shelby Wastewater Treatment Plant uses an activated sludge process, in which micro-organisms and oxygen are combined to break down solids. Only two chemicals are used in the process.
Chlorine gas kills a disease-causing bacteria and sodium bisulfate is used to remove all chlorine before the final product is released to the Black Fork River, the city’s website says.
The plant is required to dispose of activated sludge generated from the treatment process.
Additionally, the London West Road facility would be able to receive septage waste — creating a revenue source for the city’s sewer fund — if a dewatering press was available within the operation of the treatment process.
The most efficient and economical way to process activated sludge and septage waste for disposal is via an on-site dewatering press, according to language in the approved resolution.
Project could help reduce landfill tipping fees
John Ensman, the city’s director of utilities, said throughout the wastewater treatment process, sludge is formed — a product of the waste and containing fluid.
If the mixture is taken to a dewatering press, removing the majority of the moisture, he said you’re left with a cake-like product — making it much easier to transport to a landfill.
“There’s less weight, so there’s less tipping fees (at the landfill) associated to it (transported sludge),” Ensman said.
“The wastewater is then brought back around and treated within the (dewatering) process.”
Previously, the city land-applied waste byproduct, but has since lost the ability to do so, the director of utilities said, meaning waste must be disposed of at the landfill.
“In that process (disposing at landfill), you have to dewater the waste,” Ensman said.
“The fees for disposal would be reduced because you’re removing the moisture, which has a lot of volume and weight to it.”
In other action Monday, City Council:
— did not request a liquor permit hearing for the first floor and patio of LJR Enterprises Inc. (dba Legends Sports Grill & Pub), located at 63 W. Main St.
— passed an ordinance repealing Ordinance 9-2024 in its entirety.
— passed an ordinance proposing an amendment to Section 7 of the city’s charter and submitting the proposed amendment to the city’s electors.
— postponed a vote to permit the marketing campaign material for the Service Line Warranties of America residential water service line, sewer lateral and in-home plumbing repair warranty program be mailed to residents.
— directed the Richland County Board of Elections to conduct elections regarding levy renewals for the city’s park system and health department. Both levies are renewals of existing five-year, 1-mill levies and will not add new taxes to city residents, according to Brian Crum, the city’s director of finance and public record.
(Below is a PDF showing Monday evening’s Shelby City Council agenda.)
