Sludge Watch ==> Monticello Indiana - Sludge to Energy in BioTown

[Maureen Reilly]

Board of Works hears about possible sludge deal

Katie Duffey
Reporter

The City of Monticello spends $30,000 a year to land apply the sludge from 
its wastewater treatment plant.

That $30,000 could revert to the city if instead its sludge one day takes a 
six-mile trip down the road to BioTown, USA in Reynolds, where ground will 
be broken tomorrow on a technology suite that will use sludge and sewage to 
produce electricity.
But to find out if a real savings would result from such an arrangement 
between Monticello and BioTown, the city will have to contribute $10,000 to 
take part in a wastewater treatment plant feasibility study.

The matter, discussed during the city's Board of Works meeting Monday 
afternoon, is still under consideration and will likely come up again at 
next month's meeting for a vote.
Jon Borgers of Wessler and Associates is working with the BioTown Authority 
on arranging the study and was present during Monday's meeting to provide 
further information for the city. Borgers informed Monticello officials that 
as of last Friday the BioTown Authority agreed to go forward with the study. 
Now it is up to other municipalities to decide if they want to be included 
in the study as well.
The BioTown Authority will chip in $20,000 for its part of the study. If 
Monticello chooses to participate it will cost the city $10,000, and if 
Monon or the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District opt in the cost to each will 
be $5,000.

If, however, only the authority engages in the study or just Monticello and 
the authority participate, the total cost for each scenario would then be 
$20,000 or $30,000 respectively.
To accommodate the pending technology suite, Reynolds needs to build a new 
wastewater treatment plant which will replace the lagoon system currently in 
use. The timing is right, explained Borgers, to see if other municipalities 
want to become involved and either pump their sludge or raw sewage to the 
technology suite in Reynolds.

For $10,000 the study would provide Monticello with information on the cost 
of pumping sludge or sewage to Reynolds as well as costs for what the 
authority and the municipalities would pay in sharing the cost to construct 
the plant.
"In the study phase we'll get you budget numbers and what it would cost to 
continue on," said Borgers, who shared with the board copies of the 
agreement the BioTown Authority agreed upon last Friday.

Monticello Wastewater Superintendent Joe Mowrer said he's hoping the city 
enters into the study, but anything further depends solely on the results.

"I see potential in that it's costing us $15,000 each time for land 
application and we do that twice a year," explained Mowrer, who noted that 
cost will likely increase this year due to rising fuel costs. "I think it 
should be investigated. But there has to be a pretty good savings in this 
for us to participate. It has to be economical and nothing that increases 
rates for taxpayers, but I think we need to look and see what is practical."

Borgers said he has not heard whether or not the TLRSD plans to participate 
but hinted Monon is interested in getting involved, especially if Monticello 
makes the jump.
"Basically the indication is they may do it if we'll do it," said Mowrer.
Also Monday, the board gave the Monticello Fire Department approval to spend 
$4,151 on a new phone system, replacing an outdated system that is 
13-years-old, and approved a supplemental design contract on the North Main 
Street project for $18,700.

http://www.thehj.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=32&ArticleID=19983&TM=21751.74