Iowa City moving ahead on wastewater plant project

The City Council Tuesday night will vote on a resolution adopting the facility plan for the south wastewater treatment plant.

Rick Fosse, the city's public works director, told the City Council at a work session Monday night that the resolution would move the city from the planning phase to the design phase for one of its most important flood-mitigation projects.

The city's north wastewater treatment plant was flooded in 2008, and the city plans to shut it down and shift its operations to the south plant.

The project will be done in two phases and carries a total estimated cost of $91 million. The first phase is expected to be operational by April 2014 and the second will occur about 15 years later, when the capacity will be needed and more funding is secured, Fosse said.

About $32.5 million is federal and state funding will help cover the $46.7 million first phase. Local-option sales tax money and wastewater revenues will make up the rest.