Operations, Maintenance & Management Services
IAI has provided full contract operation of the City of Menominee’s drinking water and wastewater treatment systems since 2001. A crew of nine full-time IAI employees provide operations, maintenance, and management services, of the City’s facilities.
4.0 MGD Surface Water Filtration Plant
Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution
A 4.0 million gallon per day (MGD) drinking water treatment plant serves more than 4,500 customers per day. The city’s drinking water comes from Lake Michigan, is filtered and treated, and distributed throughout Menominee through a network of storage tanks and underground pipes. IAI personnel operate the water treatment plant, and maintain the distribution system that delivers drinking water.
3.2 MGD Class B Activated Sludge Plant
Wastewater Collection, Treatment and Discharge
IAI provides operation and maintenance of Menominee’s wastewater collection (sanitary sewer) system, performing routine checks, preventative maintenance, and emergency response, for the lift stations, pressure and gravity sewers that bring wastewater from all over the City to the treatment plant.
Menominee’s wastewater treatment facility is designed to treat up to 3.2 MGD of domestic wastewater. The treatment plant utilizes an activated sludge treatment process, with anaerobic biosolids digestion and chlorine disinfection. Treated water is monitored to verify that it meets discharge standards, and is then discharged to the Menominee River under a NPDES permit issued by the State of Michigan.
Capital Improvements
IAI has performed several upgrades to the water and wastewater facilities over the years, utilizing our in-house design-build and mechanical contracting capabilities.
Energy audit and aeration system upgrades conducted by IAI at the WWTP resulted in 55% energy cost savings
Within three years, the realized savings had paid for the improvement project
Groundwater Remediation Site Operations & Maintenance
On behalf of the City, IAI also operates a groundwater remediation system. A system of purgewells draws up groundwater from a contaminated former landfill site, and pumps the water to the wastewater treatment plant, where it is treated prior to discharge. IAI monitors groundwater levels at the site, contamination levels in the groundwater, and completes required annual reporting to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).
Asset Management
IAI’s engineering and operations staff worked in collaboration with another engineering firm to complete an Asset Managment Plan for the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Work performed by IAI included equipment inventory, condition assessment and replacement costs calculation.
Do you offer tours?
Hi, McKayla! Thank you for your interest in the City of Menominee’s water and wastewater facilities. We will contact you via e-mail in response to your question.
Is tap water in Menominee mi safe to drink? If not, what filter do you recommend? Is a refrigerator filter good?
That is a great question, Mary Ann and thank you for visiting the IAI website. The short answer is, yes, the City of Menominee’s drinking water is safe! A longer answer is that the water is pumped from Lake Michigan, treated to remove contaminants, and monitored daily by professional operations staff, under the direction, guidance and oversight of the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Any health or safety issue concerning the City of Menominee’s water supply would be communicated to the public through channels such as the City’s website or other media. Every year, the state of Michigan requires the City to publish a Consumer Confidence Report, which is prepared by IAI. The latest report is available on the City of Menominee’s website, here: https://menominee.us/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2019-WQR-Report.pdf