The staff of the Wastewater Treatment Facility takes great pride in protecting the Mississippi River and the residents of our wonderful community. Prairie du Chien is located in one of the most picturesque and natural resource rich areas in the United States, and we strive to do our part in preserving this beauty and abundance. Over the past several years, we have taken many steps to enhance the wastewater collection system and the treatment facility to ensure a high-quality effluent discharge into the river and at the same time upgrade and improve services in terms of cost-effectiveness and energy-efficiency. Please feel free to stop at the facility, take a tour, and meet the staff. We welcome visitors and enjoy giving practical demonstrations of what goes on at a wastewater treatment facility. Thanks for allowing us to serve you!
Location: 400 West Lockwood
Hours: The Wastewater Treatment Facility’s normal business hours are from 6:30 AM to 3:00 PM Monday through Friday and 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM on weekends and holidays.
We encourage anyone interested to call ahead and make tour arrangements. Tours of the facility take approximately 1 hour. The tours are mainly outdoors, so dress accordingly. – Contacts: Phone – (608) 326-8534
Email – wwtf@prairieduchien-wi.gov
Fax (608) 326-9624
Mail: PO Box 324, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821
2006 WRWA Wastewater System Of The Year
RATES AND BILLING
A sewer bill is based on the amount of water used and is made up of two separate fees: a base fee and a volume charge based on the amount of water used. Customers are billed quarterly. The volume charge is $3.19 for every 100 cubic feet of water (or approximately 750 gallons) used for residential, commercial, and most industrial customers.
If the nature of an industrial customer’s sewage (amount of biological oxygen demand and suspended solids) is such that it creates a greater impact on the wastewater treatment plant, the customer is charged an additional surcharge.
Drastic increases in a water/sewer bill may indicate possible plumbing problems. If you are concerned about an increase in your bill, the Water Department might be able to help you locate the problem.
While City personnel can’t make repairs in your home, just knowing the problem exists can help you get prompt service in fixing it. In some cases, a water leak may even qualify for an adjustment to your bill.
To learn how you can help prevent potential sewer problems, please read the Public Notice regarding proper sanitary sewer use/disposal.
For questions on your sewer bill, contact City Hall at 326-6406.
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Diggers Hotline: State law requires anyone doing excavation work in Wisconsin to give at least three working days notice to Diggers Hotline prior to digging. Diggers Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Toll-Free (800) 242-8511.
If you notice that you have a sewer backup, smell or other wastewater problems, please call the Wastewater Department at 608-326-8534, City Hall at 608-326-6406 or after regular working hours call the Police Department at 608-326-2421.
To Start Service at Connected Site: To establish sewer and water service at a site that is already connected to the sanitary sewer system, contact City Hall at (608) 326-6406.
To End Service at Connected Site: An owner or tenant of property supplied with sewer & water may discontinue this service by calling the City and asking for service to be discontinued. The minimum charge will continue to be billed as long as the sewer & water remains connected, whether or not any water is consumed.
- Establishing a New Connection Where None Exists: The City requires a Utility Permit and a $500 permit fee prior to installation of new connections to the sanitary sewer system. Any repairs to the sanitary sewer lateral also require a permit, a $25 permit fee, and an inspection. In addition, disconnecting sanitary sewer service, such as when a building is razed, requires a permit, a $25 permit fee, and an inspection. Permits can be obtained by contacting Cassie Rickleff, Municipal Technician, at City Hall at (608) 326-8024 or crickleff@prairieduchien-wi.gov . Effective January 1, 2007, all new sanitary sewer laterals require the installation of a trace wire.
Holding Tanks/Septic Dumping Charges: The charge for septic haulers is $26.40/1,000 gallons. Haulers must be pre-approved and have permission from the City to dump at the WWTF.
RV and Recreational Holding Tank Disposal: The City has a new RV Dump Station located at 301 W. Lockwood St. (just across from the Dog Park off of the Bypass). The charge for recreational holding tank disposal is $10.00/dump and is open 24/7 during the warmer months.
HELPFUL LINKS
New Federal Rule Includes Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals Sewering Ban_
What NOT to Place Down the Drain
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Wisconsin Wastewater Operator’s Association
WDNR – Operator Certification and Licensing
Environmental Protection Agency
HISTORY OF THE FACILITY
The original sewage treatment system was constructed early in the 20th century. At that time, the discharge went directly into the Mississippi River. In 1956, the system was upgraded and expanded resulting in the first wastewater treatment facility being built on the current site. In 1971, there was an expansion of the facility from a primary to a secondary treatment plant. These improvements included new pumping equipment, two primary clarifiers, and an aerobic digesting tank. The secondary treatment consisted of a mix-type aeration basin for the activated sludge process. The facility went through upgrades in 1982, 1987 and 1992 as well as a major renovation in 1995. The renovation included new final clarifiers, biosolids processing equipment, increased storage to over 1 million gallons, a larger and more efficient activated sludge aeration basin, grit removal, and higher output blowers that provide oxygen to the bacterial life and suppress odors in the storage tanks through the use of more efficient piping and diffusers. In 1997, the facility began treating the wastewater for phosphorus through biological and as necessary, chemical (aluminum sulfate) treatment. The sanitary sewer collection system has approximately 27 miles of piping and also includes six sewage collection lift stations that pump the sewage to the treatment facility. The facility can process up to two million gallons per day of sewage.In addition to the City’s collection system, the treatment facility also accepts the wastewater from the Towns of Bridgeport and Prairie du Chien as well.
Meet the Wastewater Department Staff:
