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$7.5 million project expected to reduce sanitary sewer back ups in northwest Lake County

The Northwest Regional Excess Flow Facility might not be on Lake County's tourism list, but its purpose and function are crucial to keeping sewage out of basements and bodies of water during heavy rain.

A former wastewater treatment plant that was closed in 1980 and later converted to storage, the facility in an industrial area in Round Lake Beach has undergone a $7.5 million renovation and expansion.

Essentially, it consists of three large lagoons and associated pumps, valves, controls and equipment that automatically can divert and store up to 20 million gallons of wastewater when the regional treatment plant in Fox Lake is inundated.

"By far, this is the most significant improvement since the regional (wastewater treatment) system was put in place in 1980," said Bonnie Thomson Carter, a county board member from Ingleside.

The facility is owned by the Round Lake Sanitary District and managed by Lake County's public works department. The design and construction of the excess flow facility involved the cooperation of 11 communities and entities.

"A lot of people worked to make this happen," Round Lake Beach Mayor Rich Hill said. Hill chairs the advisory committee that envisioned and pursued the project. He added that a portion of the site can be renovated and used as a recycling facility.

Mayors from Round Lake, Round Lake Park, Hainesville, Lake Villa and Fox Lake, Lakes Region Sanitary District officials, several county board members and others involved with the project heard an overview and toured the site Wednesday.

Peaks of five to seven times the average daily flow can be received in Fox Lake during wet weather, at times resulting in unauthorized discharges and backups in basements, Lake County Public Works Director Peter Kolb said.

"The whole idea is managing the flow where it's most appropriate," Kolb said. "This should provide significant relief. We think this will get us the next 10 or 15 years before we have to do something else."

When the flow is more than can be handled at Fox Lake, a signal is sent and it is diverted to the Round Lake Beach facility. Solids are removed, and the overflow held until the storm passes and it can be pumped to Fox Lake for treatment.

Kolb said the process is akin to how Chicago stores overflow in the Deep Tunnel, but it is just part of the solution. Fixing leaks and controlling infiltration into pipes also is needed, he added.

The project was funded by a $1.50 per month excess flow surcharge on water/sewer bills.

@dhmickzawislak

  Don Glenn, right, automation technician for Lake County public works department, explains the pump control system at the Northwest Regional Excess Flow Facility to Lake County Board member Craig Taylor. Mick Zawislak/mzawislak@dailyherald.com
  The main lagoon at the $7.5 million Northwest Regional Excess Flow Facility in Round Lake Beach can hold 10 million gallons of wastewater. Mick Zawislak/mzawislak@dailyherald.com
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