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Hardwick’s sanitary sewer lagoons received long-overdue maintenance last week, thanks to a combination of funding resources to pay the $68,000 bill.
Workers with Reker Construction and Aggregate of Adrian spent last week adding riprap on the north and east dikes, primarily on the second of two lagoons located east of Hardwick.
Reker workers also extended tiling around a section of the lagoons’ perimeters, raised the walls in the transfer and discharge structure, and replaced culverts under the access driveway.
The Hardwick lagoons, constructed in 1972, were expected to last 35 years, according to DGR Engineer Mike Carr.
For several years, Carr has worked with Hardwick city officials to lessen water entry into the sanitary system, as well as map out an affordable plan to extend the life of the existing ponds.
In the past, funding was an issue to complete the extensive projects.
Hardwick is using American Rescue Plan (Covid) funds, sewer reserves and a grant from the Prairie Rose Community Fund to pay for the work and engineering costs.
Reker Construction provided the lowest bid of $34,615.
“Lagoons are not seen and are often taken for granted,” said city clerk Tammy Johnson. “They are vital to Hardwick’s infrastructure.”
Hardwick contracts with Verlyn Van Batavia as sewer superintendent.
“Due to his great maintenance and supervision, we have remained MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) compliant,” Johnson added. “The upgrades and maintenance we are investing in now will extend their lives for years to come.”