Working in collaboration, the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District (KWRD), Kishwaukee College and the Village of Malta broke ground on a new sewer line extension that will improve the disposal of wastewater for all three entities.
“This project is a model of what government should aspire to, with three separate units of local government partnering to improve the environment, eliminate duplicate government services and reduce rates. This was not an easy project to bring to fruition,” said Dr. Dennis Collins, President of the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District. “Innovation can be difficult, but extraordinary efforts by open-minded public servants from the Village, College, District and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency have resulted in a win for our shared environment and ratepayers alike.”
The project will extend a sewer line 5.3 miles from west of DeKalb to Malta and the Kishwaukee College campus. The extension will allow both Malta and the College to decommission their existing wastewater treatment centers, creating long-term savings by no longer needing to operate the individual facilities.
For Malta, the new infrastructure also allows for potential growth, with public sewer now accessible to more than 2,500 additional acres in DeKalb County.
“Malta is very excited to partner with Kishwaukee College and the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District. This partnership will allow Malta to not only be able to invite businesses to our Village but also allow more homes to be built and our existing subdivision to enter phases 2 and 3. By addressing our wastewater infrastructure issue with the partnership, we look forward to watching industry and our population grow,” said Bob Iversen, President of the Village of Malta.
Kishwaukee College’s onsite sewer treatment plant was built with the original school in 1968. Due to its length of use, the plant has outlived its operational capabilities. Kish will replace its wastewater facility with a new pump station and force main on the College campus. The main will run to the Village of Malta, where a second pump station will be installed.
“This project will resolve a major need for our infrastructure at Kishwaukee College,” said Bob Johnson, Chair, Kishwaukee College Board of Trustees. “The College has been researching future solutions for our wastewater for several years, and we appreciate the collaborative effort between our neighbors to make this development possible and create sustainability for our campus and growth for future generations.”
The project also provides water quality improvements for the Kishwaukee River with a major reduction in contaminants. The consolidation of services will also reduce energy use for both the College and Village.
“This project is a great example of just how effective this funding source can be for the environment and residents of the State. The Illinois EPA is excited to again partner with the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District to build on the recent upgrades at its wastewater treatment plant,” said Illinois EPA Director John J. Kim. “The new financing opportunity will allow the District to provide more advanced and environmentally beneficial treatment for the Village of Malta and Kishwaukee College than was otherwise possible, resulting in protections to the Kishwaukee River and meaningful opportunities for continued growth and development for the Village and College.”
Preliminary work has already started, and the project is estimated to be completed by Spring 2023. The projected cost is $7.12 million and is funded through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Pollution Control Revolving Loan Program. The loan program provided $2.07 million in principal forgiveness, and an additional $250,000 in federal funding was secured through U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin’s (D-IL) office.
“This project is an example of efficiently using taxpayer dollars to provide better service to residents and businesses,” U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin said. “Improving the sanitary sewer infrastructure for the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District will benefit the College and Village of Malta. Discharging cleaner water into local waterways is important for the environment, and I applaud the teamwork on display today.”
The remaining $4.8 million cost is shared between the three entities, with the Village of Malta covering 50%, Kishwaukee College covering 25% and KWRD covering 25%.
For more information on the project, visit www.kishwrd.com.