(Arnolds Park)– The Arnolds Park City Council Wednesday reviewed preliminary findings of an engineering study into the feasibility of upgrading the Central Water Treatment Plant, including the possibility of one plant that would jointly served the cities of Orleans, Spirit Lake, Okoboji and Arnolds Park.
The study initially came about as the result of Spirit Lake needing to increase capacity at its plant to meet a consent order from the Department of Natural Resources. After getting the findings of that report it was decided to see if Arnolds Park, Okoboji and Central Water would be interested in signing onto a study for a possible joint treatment facility.
Mark Hardy of the Howard R. Green engineering firm outlined three possible options. They include major rennovations to the Central Water treatment plant, making it a central plant that would serve all four communities. Under that scenario, the Spirit Lake plant would be moth balled or torn down. The second option is to increase capacities of both the Spirit Lake and Central Water plants, with the Spirit Lake facility being used during peak times only. A third option is for each plant to do its own upgrades.
Estimated cost for each option is in the tens of million of dollars. Put to an economy of scale, Hardy said the most cost-effective would be the first option.
Hardy said they hope to have the data in the report finalized in another two to three weeks. After that, he says more detailed written reports will be presented to the Central Water board and council members in the four towns for further review and possible action.
