Rock Island Wastewater Treatment Plant

Varela provided design and resources to clear the water at the City of Rock Island

Prompted by serious nitrate contamination of the area groundwater supply linked to the City’s residential on-site sanitary sewer systems, the City of Rock Island began an aggressive plan to provide centralized treatment facilities.

The efforts resulted in a 4-phase project, connecting every home in Rock Island to the new wastewater collection system, decommissioning the existing on-site septic tanks, and construction of a cutting-edge wastewater treatment facility with discharge to the Columbia River.

Varela worked with the City from the beginning, writing the initial Feasibility Study and Coordinated Capital Facilities Plan. Our efforts resulted in garnering funding from 12 different sources totaling over $12 million (70% grant) in funding. The 4 phases of the project were completed on schedule with change orders coming in at less than 2%.

Waste Water Treatment Plant Project Designs included:

• New wastewater treatment facility with 0.788 million gallon per day peak flow rate
• Over 26,000 lineal feet of sanitary sewer collection and force-main piping
• Decommissioning of over 270 on-site septic tanks and connection to new city collection system
• New system SCADA controls and billing system
• Varela plant operation and installation of computer maintenance management system (CMMS)