‘Tremendous leap forward’: Libertyville upgrading wastewater treatment plant
Libertyville is investing about $3.28 million into an essential part of daily life that residents likely seldom, if ever, consider.
Wastewater goes away when you flush, but receiving, treating and releasing it clean into the Des Plaines River is an unheralded necessity.
The village board recently awarded a $3.28 million contract to Joseph J. Henderson & Son Inc. of Gurnee to convert Libertyville’s disinfection process from liquid chlorine to ultraviolet light and to replace pumps and the nondrinking water system in the filter building.
Those three elements date to either the construction of the wastewater treatment plant in 1965 or to an expansion in 1975.
“We combined three projects,” said Paul Kendzior, the village’s public works director. “All these items are original to the original construction or plant expansion.”
The village treats 4 million or more gallons of wastewater a day at the plant, which is situated on 25 acres just west of the Des Plaines River.
The conversion from liquid chlorine to UV for disinfection will improve safety and efficiency, and no longer require dechlorination of the effluent before release in the Des Plaines River, according to information presented to the village board.
Kendzior described the pending switch as going from a manual to automatic transmission in a motor vehicle.
“It’s safer for the environment (and) safer to use,” he said.
Bids came in more than $790,000 below the estimate. The savings will be used for contingencies and repurposed for other projects.
Wastewater pumped to the plant goes through a series of processes, including screening, settling and aerating, with samples taken throughout.
The last stage of the treatment process occurs in the “chlorine contact chamber,” which basically is a concrete pit. Liquid chlorine, which has been used since the plant’s inception, is introduced at that point. A UV system to remove bacteria will replace that step at the same location.
Before voting to approve the contract, village Trustee Pete Garrity said eliminating the use of a “nasty, nasty chemical” is a large but important expense.
“The fact that we can take that out of our treatment system and get the same results or maybe even better results with UV light is a tremendous leap forward,” he said.
Kendzior expects the conversion to take 18 to 24 months.
Mundelein, which operates its treatment plant just south of Libertyville’s, is considering the same change, said Erik Broz, the town’s superintendent of utility resources.
“The overall goal is to improve safety, reduce chemical handling, and align with modern wastewater treatment practices,” he said.
mzawislak@dailyherald.com