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BNWRD plans to borrow $31.5 million for next 2 phases of treatment plant renovations

Treated water in a clarifier, the next to last stage before the reclamation district releases it into a waterway.
Charlie Schlenker
/
WGLT
BNWRD plans to borrow $31.5 million for the next two phases of a major renovation to its sewage treatment plant in west Bloomington.

The Bloomington-Normal Water Reclamation District [BNWRD] is ready for the next steps in a $250 million overhaul of its sewage treatment plant in west Bloomington.

The district is borrowing $31.5 million for the second and third phases of a five-phase plan to renovate and upgrade the century-old plant at 2015 W. Oakland Ave. in Bloomington. The plant processes 70% of the wastewater in BNWRD’s service area.

Executive director Tim Ervin said the changes are necessary to upgrade aging infrastructure and to handle more waste.

“We are seeing an increase in the amount of wastewater we are processing, so rather than wait for the system to become an immediate issue, we are proceeding with expansion plans to be ready,” he said.

The second phase also will enable the plant to use methane extracted from the waste to help power the facility. Ervin said the combined, heat, and power [CHP] engine and other gas conditioning equipment will help satisfy 40% of the plant’s energy needs.

The third phase will complete renovations to one of its headworks structures that screen bricks, stones and other debris from the sewer water as it enters the plant.

Ervin added BNWRD aims to take a modular approach to renovations that would give the agency capacity to expand to meet increased service demands in future years.

He said the renovations will enable BNWRD to meet new water quality standards to remove phosphorous from the wastewater and generally reduce nutrient pollution.

“These are required updates. BNWRD doesn’t have an option,” said Erving referring to permitting rules enforced by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency.

Currently Phases 2 and 3 are both in the design stage, Ervin said, with construction expected to begin late next year or early 2026.

BNWRD also is planning improvements to its wastewater collection system to bring additional wastewater to its two treatment plants.

The renovations are being paid for through increased sewer fees, which the district’s governing board approved in May, and property taxes. The district has adopted a 5% higher tax levy for 2025.

Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.