Curtiss OK’s groundwater study by MSA

The village of Curtiss will move forward with a $22,000 groundwater study by MSA to see if the village can retain its lagoon sewer system. The village board approved the proposal during its monthly board meeting on March 9.

For several months, engineer Mike Voss of MSA has been speaking with the village board regarding the distance between the village’s groundwater and the sewer treatment lagoons, saying it could be in violation of DNR policy.

“The groundwater level out at the ponds, based on some 2002 parameters, indicate that there’s not enough separation between the groundwater and the bottom of the second area pond and the stabilization pond,” Voss said.

Voss recommended several site excavations near the ponds to determine the height of groundwater. Testing would include eight test pits and samples would be collected as each bucket is dug. The holes would be filled in and compacted directly afterwards. MSA would report the findings to the DNR.

Voss said the worst-case scenario for Curtiss would be if the distance between the groundwater and ponds was not enough. In that event, Curtiss would need to abandon the lagoon system and likely need to build an expensive mechanical wastewater treatment system.

“I can’t guarantee that doing the study will allow you to continue using the ponds,” Voss said. “Our findings will tell you where the seasonal groundwater is, and based on those elevations, it will determine how we will move forward. Hopefully we keep the ponds in service.”

The cost of the study does not include the cost of excavating the pits, which Voss estimated would cost the village around $1,500 to $2,000. The excavation for the eight pits will occur when the ground is sufficiently thawed.