In October 2008, our city passed a milestone in "going green" when new pipelines and pump station that service our wastewater treatment plant went on line.

Before the 2001 wastewater treatment plant renovation, the plant had a 2.6 MG (million gallons per day) capability/4.0 MG storm capacity.   Back then the 2001 the treatment plant did not have the capacity to treat a moderate volume of water that occurs during many rains.    An additional issue was that during many rains, the flow rate of the sewer pipe line system had been inadequate to carry a sufficient volume of water to the treatment plant.  That resulted in wastewater backing up within the pipe lines and overflowing into Town Creek.

Today the wastewater treatment plant averages a flow of 2.8 MG per day compared to 1.8 MG prior  to the 2001 plant renovation with the plant now having the capability to treat a storm flow of 8.0 MG.

During 2007, a 24-inch line was laid as a part of the North Washington Street road construction project which addressed a portion of the inadequate waste water flow.  The waste water treatment plant experience more than a 13 percent increase in the average monthly flow during the following year.  A portion of the increase was attributed to the ability of the new line to carry the storm flow.

During 2008, a new pump station was built to replace both the station on Allingham Street at Town Creek, which serviced northwest Van Wert, and a station, built in 1935 which serviced the southern half of the city.   As a part of the 2008 project, a 24-inch sewer line was placed deep into the ground to deliver a direct flow of wastewater from northwest Van Wert to the new pump station which eliminated the need for the Allingham Station.

In addition, 24-inch line capable of a higher water pressure was installed from the new pump station to the wastewater treatment plant.   

The new station now has a capacity to pump 12 MG compared to a 3.7 MG flow rate of the two former stations combined.  As a result, the southern half of the City will have an increased flow rate by making a more efficient use of a 33-inch main line installed years earlier.  

As funding grants allow, efforts for cleaner water have also included the very expensive process of laying storm sewer lines.  This system of lines takes rainwater drained from the streets directly into the creek, which lessens the volume of water to be treated within the wastewater lines.

The City is now achieving the goal set forth ten years earlier:  to have the capacity to treat a storm flow rate of 8.0 MG per day.  Upon completion, this increased capacity can handle the majority of rain storms which hit our community.  Such efforts are a part of an ongoing project to meet continually changing EPA standards of "going green."