FEDS' FINDING ALLOWS TRICKLE FILTER WORK TO CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE

A government finding will speed up Cape Girardeau's renovations to its wastewater trickling filter system, city officials say.

Renovation work at the wastewater treatment plant on La Cruz Street could begin as early as spring now that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources issued a review of the $1.8 million proposed renovations.

A trickling filter is the second line of treatment for waste water that enters the treatment plant. Trickling filters allow sewage to be pumped to the top of a 47-foot-tall building that then trickles down through the filtering system for treatment, which breaks it down to raw materials.

The city's building has exceeded its 20-year design life and needs renovations. DNR determined last week that no significant impact is expected and the project can continue.

The categorical exclusion determination report is part of a process the city must go through to receive State Revolving Fund money. The money is available at a reduced interest rate and saves the city over the course of the project.

The trickling filter project is part of a $25 million sanitary sewer improvement program that Cape Girardeau voters approved in February. Other work includes replacing lift stations along the Mississippi River, replacing a relief trunk sewer along Ramsey Creek and building a new lift station and force main to serve a portion of the city that hasn't been connected to city water.

Work has already begun.

"If they found anything now it would stop the process," said Doug Leslie, public works director. "It's part of the evolution in the process for getting the money."

Since the city is renovating its trickling filter and not building anything new, there shouldn't be any environmental impact, the report said. It actually speeds up the process, Leslie said.

Now the bonds can be sold and the money made available to the city by winter.