The Arkansas Natural Resources Commission has announced a finding of no significant impact from the proposed new wastewater treatment plant at Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
Total project cost is $20-million.
A phosphorus limit of 1 mg/L is included in the permit although city officials earlier said they intend to remove phosphorus at a much higher degree (less than 1 mg/L).
A nitrate limit of less than 10.0 mg/L is anticipated the city said.
The present average daily flow is 3.1 million gallons daily. Design flow is 4.4. MGD to serve a population of 14,300 people.
The nutrient limit proposed is a result of an agreement reached with the State of Oklahoma which has imposed a phosphorus limit of .037 mg/L by 2012. Other northwestern Arkansas cities signed the agreement negotiated by Oklahoma Secretary of Environment Miles Tolbert and the Oklahoma Attorney General's Office with the assistance of Oklahoma Scenic Rivers Commission Administrator Ed Fite.
In addition to improvements in wastewater treatment, Siloam Springs is dedicated to protecting Saeger Creek which is a tributary of Flint Creek, an Oklahoma Scenic River. Wetlands protection and removal of the solid waste transfer station from the banks of Saeger Creek have been accomplished by the city. In addition, the Siloam Springs officials and officials of Simmons Foods have worked closely to protect water quality through stormwater retention and treatment facilities. Siloam Springs further protects the Illinois River watershed by removing sewage biosolids to a landfill outside the basin.
"Save the Illinois River, Inc., STIR, congratulates the City of Siloam Springs for its commitment to clean, safe water in the Illinois River watershed," said STIR President Kurt Robinson. "Credit also goes to Simmons Foods for development of the company's stormwater retention facility," Robinson added.
The new plant is expected to accommodate the growth of Siloam Springs for the next 20 years.