For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS — Beginning Thursday, Sept. 28, a contractor will set up a barge at Ben Hanson Park to drill river crossing soil borings as a preliminary step toward redesigning the wastewater force main that serves the west side of Wisconsin Rapids.

The west side lift station, located near the Municipal Zoo, is at end of its service life. This lift station serves all of the residents, businesses and industry on the west side of the river, so its dependable operation is essential. The pipe that delivers the area’s wastewater to the treatment plant crosses the river south of the Department of Transportation building on 2nd Avenue South and lands over by Blue Heron Lane, just north of Bull’s Eye Country Club. The pipe then proceeds to the Wastewater Treatment plant.

Recent signs indicate that this pipe also may be nearing the end of its service life. If the pipe fails, raw sewage could enter the river. The wastewater utility has been making plans to replace the pipe for a few years now, but the recent concerns have accelerated the timeline for this necessary work.

Soil borings can save time and money on a river crossing design project by helping to pinpoint early on potential design/construction obstacles such as inconsistent soil types, multiple soil layers or rock masses. Once the design work is done, City officials will better know the construction schedule and be able to provide updates as appropriate.

For more information, contact Wastewater Superintendent Ryan Giefer at 715-421-8287 or Public Works Director Joe Terry at 715-421-8255.