Work begins on Brighton sewage treatment project

After several years of planning, upgrades to the city of Brighton’s wastewater treatment plant began last week.

Mayor Melvin Rich said a construction crew arrived on the site just south of the city limits last week.

“The work is going to take about a year,” Rich said.

The project has been in the works for several years after the Iowa Department of Natural Resources mandated that the treatment plant be updated.

“They said we had a problem with too much ammonia being discharged,” Rich said. “The DNR also requires all new systems to treat E. coli.

“We don’t have a problem with E. coli, but this system will take care of that, too.”

The project includes the installation of a submerged attached growth reactor (SAGR) system to the city’s aerated lagoon.

Rich said that the project will cost the city approximately $5 million.

The city initially received a $2 million grant and a $2.3 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and $300,000 Community Development Block Grant from the state of Iowa.

The project estimate went from $4.6 million to $5 million last fall, so the city requested an additional $227,000 in USDA grant funds and a $173,000 USDA loan.

Rich said that the project was held up due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We didn’t get to let the bids until fall,” he said.

The City Council awarded the contract on Dec. 1.

Even with the delays, Rich said that the project will be completed ahead of the DNR’s deadline.