PUBLIC UTILITIES ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
title
Receive the Springbrook Water Reclamation Center Capital Improvement Summary Report
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DEPARTMENT: Water Utilities
SUBMITTED BY: Darrell Blenniss, Director Water Utilities
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Springbrook Water Reclamation Center (SWRC) is currently undergoing significant upgrades driven by three primary factors: regulatory compliance, specifically regarding nutrient removal (phosphorus); the need to replace aging critical infrastructure; and the necessity to expand treatment capacity to meet long-term demands.
The 2026 Capital Improvement Program reflects a strategic investment in these areas. Key initiatives focus on modernizing electrical distribution, enhancing biosolids handling, and upgrading both North and South Plant processes to ensure environmental compliance and operational reliability.
DISCUSSION:
The following capital improvement projects are budgeted for execution or continuation in 2026. The table and summaries below detail the scope, the specific 2026 budget allocation, and the estimated completion date for each project.
|
Project Title |
2026 Budget |
Est. Completion |
|
Electrical Distribution System Improvements |
$625,000 |
Dec 31, 2026 |
|
Biosolids Holding Tank - Phase 2 |
$1,914,000 |
Dec 31, 2026 |
|
South Plant RAS/Grit Improvements |
$7,412,000 |
Dec 31, 2026 |
|
South Plant Capacity Upgrades & Improvements |
$20,359,550 |
Dec 31, 2028 |
|
Nutrient Removal & North Plant Aeration |
$1,775,000 |
Dec 31, 2029 |
|
Cloth Media Disc Filter Facilities |
$1,900,000 |
Dec 31, 2030 |
1. SWRC - Electrical Distribution System Improvements
• Scope: Installation of a second electrical feed to the SWRC as required by the Illinois EPA and replacement of original direct-bury cables and aging transformers to meet current standards.
• 2026 Activity: Complete construction and maintenance upgrades.
• Overall Timeline: Completion anticipated by December 31, 2026.
2. SWRC - Biosolids Holding Tank - Phase 2
• Scope: Construction of a second biosolids holding tank to provide operational flexibility and system redundancy. The first tank was completed in FY2016.
• 2026 Activity: Construction phase.
• Overall Timeline: Completion anticipated by December 31, 2026.
3. SWRC - South Plant RAS/Grit Improvements
• Scope: Installation of new vortex-type grit removal systems and grit washer classifiers to replace the original aerated grit process. The project also includes Return Activated Sludge (RAS) pumping improvements to support future South Plant expansion.
• 2026 Activity: Significant construction activity ($7.4M allocated).
• Overall Timeline: Completion anticipated by December 31, 2026.
4. SWRC - South Plant Capacity Upgrades & Improvements
• Scope: Comprehensive design and construction to expand South Plant capacity. This includes adding four three-pass aeration basins with new turbo blowers and membrane diffusers, configured for MUCT biological phosphorus removal. It also includes the construction of two new 130' diameter secondary clarifiers.
• 2026 Activity: Major construction phase ($20.3M allocated).
• Overall Timeline: Completion anticipated by December 31, 2028.
5. SWRC - Nutrient Removal Upgrades & North Plant Aeration Improvements
• Scope: Reconfiguration of North Plant aeration tanks for MUCT biological phosphorus removal, including new submersible mixers, recirculation pumps, high-speed turbo blowers, and fine bubble diffusers.
• 2026 Activity: Continued engineering design and initial construction phases ($1.775M allocated).
• Overall Timeline: Completion anticipated by December 31, 2029.
6. SWRC - Cloth Media Disc Filter Facilities
• Scope: Installation of cloth media disc filters to provide tertiary filtration. This technology is selected for its compact footprint and is necessary to achieve anticipated future phosphorus limits of less than 0.5 mg/L.
• 2026 Activity: Engineering design phase ($1.9M allocated).
• Overall Timeline: Completion anticipated by December 31, 2030.