On November 11, 2011, a Traverse City firm, Gosling Czubak Engineering Sciences Inc., issued a report commissioned by the Village of Elk Rapids that examines the feasibility of expanding the Village’s sewer system and treatment plant.
The treatment plant did not meet DEQ discharge permit limits during spring and early summer of 2011. The study discovered that critical aeration equipment had been downsized and the equipment was not capable of meeting the stated organic capacity of the treatment plant. “The most urgent improvements were conducted in the November 2011, but more work is needed.”
The Village of Elk Rapids is home to two major beverage and fruit processors. Shorts Brewery is connected to the Village wastewater system but is “stressing the abilities of the aging treatment plant”. Burnette Foods is not connected to the Village system and operates its own spray irrigation system for wastewater treatment. ESLA has over the years responded to member concerns about the disposal of this wastewater adjacent to Elk Lake. ESLA reviews all of the compliance reports that are related to the DEQ permit provided to Burnette Foods.
This feasibility study investigated 6 alternative treatment technologies. The alternative with the lowest life cycle cost is a mechanical treatment plan/lagoon hybrid that uses common municipal treatment plant technology modified to make use of the existing lagoons. This is the alternative recommended by Gosling Czubak.
This alternative would include treating the wastewater from Burnette Foods and from an expanded service area. The expanded service area is based on discussions with Village, Elk Rapids Township and Milton Township officials and would include properties on:
• Grand Traverse Bay along North Bayshore Road and in Inwood Harbor
• Elk Lake and Elk River that are within the Village limits
• Elk Lake around Spencer’s Bay in Elk Rapids Township
• Elk Lake from the Village limits to Birch Lake including Maple Harbor
• Elk Lake in the Village of Kewadin in Milton Township
• Elk Lake along Elk Tip Drive in Milton Township
The ESLA Board of Directors will discuss this report during its March meeting and will determine ESLA’s position regarding the proposed alternatives. To read the full fesibility study click here.
