Amador County – Ione City Council last week approved activating a new aerator unit at its wastewater storage Pond 5 that may end up helping the city find a less costly solution to its sewer problems.

The Council approved a new contract with wastewater consultant Winzler & Kelly and heard a report of the status of a “Report of Waste Discharge,” which is due by the end of July.

Interim City Manager Jeff Butzlaff said the City is looking at compliance requirements of the Cease and Desist Order from the state, which orders that Ione remove manganese and iron corruption from its storage pond seepage into Sutter Creek, or apply for a permit to make the discharge.

The council gave authorization to go forward with a solar circulator, an aerator in Pond 5 to circulate and modify the iron and manganese levels of concentration in the water, by mixing it. The city started a lease-purchase arrangement for the aerator, Butzlaff said, and if it get outcomes that we’re hoping to attain,” it could minimize work on stratification levels and better oxygenate water in pond, and the pond can overcome the iron and manganese degradation.

Winzler & Kelly, through sampling, found Pond 5 was worst, and received state approval to try degradation changes with the aerator. Butzlaff said Ponds 6 and 7 did not have a problem, and this was clearly defined by depth testing.

The approach was not what the seepage discharge compliance plan indicated, he said. The report said the high iron and manganese issues may have been caused by heavy sludge at bottom of pond, but sampling and testing showed it was not the cause. It was caused by colder water, more direct contact with ground water, because Pond 5 is 4 feet deeper than the other ponds.

He was hopeful there may end up being no need for long-term financing and indebtedness – which could be the end result from a larger project requirement.

Ione will continue discussion with Amador Regional Sanitation Authority (ARSA) and Mule Creek on discussion with those parties with a more long term solution. Butzlaff said it becomes a basis for us going forward, with the least cost, and most conducive approach to a solution. It could also allow the city to not have to go through a Proposition 218 notification and rate increase.

A long term fix, including land irrigation can better work out with partners, he said. Last year, meeting Cease & Desist deadline backed Ione into a corner, but as talks improve, possible partnerships enhance Ione’s ability to go forward with a regional, larger project. Costs were estimated at $2 million to $17 million, and partnering would mean Ione would not have to pay the entire cost.

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.