Southern Indiana Business Report
HUNTINGBURG – A significant infrastructure project that has been planned over the administrations of three mayors will provide long-term benefits to residents in Huntingburg.
City officials broke ground on the $50 million project July 16. The groundbreaking marked the start of work that will replace the current Wastewater Treatment Plant with a new Sequential Batch Reactor (SBR) as well as the construction of a section of influent main along First Street.
The city is funding the project with a combination of federal grants and low interest loans from EDA, Indiana Finance Authority and USDA Rural Development. The city is also restructuring its wastewater rates, based on a recommendation from the rate advisory board and board of public works.
The improvements are designed to meet the growing industrial and residential needs of the community and to support future development.
“We are thrilled to embark on this transformative project that will provide long-term benefits to our citizens,” said Huntingburg Mayor Neil Elkins in prepared remarks. “This initiative is a testament to our commitment to creating a safer, healthier, and more resilient community. The support from our state and federal partners has been invaluable in making this vision a reality.”
According to information reported by the Dubois County Free Press, the current system was built in 1957 and updated in the 1990s. During heavy rainfall events, the treatment plant is under a strain to treat the water.
The new system will handle rain events because it can batch-process wastewater more quickly than the sludge system in the current facility, according to the Dubois County Free Press.
Elkins noted the new wastewater plant will be the largest capital expenditure for any public project in the city’s history.
Construction is expected to take about two years. The city is working with Commonwealth Engineers to design and oversee the project.