Eveleth Wastewater Treatment Facility
Background:
Eveleth’s wastewater treatment plant discharges to Elbow Creek which flows into Elbow Lake. The City received a letter dated August 6, 2019 from the MPCA stating that the water quality in Elbow Lake is impaired, and Eveleth needs to remove more phosphorus from the wastewater before discharging to Elbow Creek. The new MPCA permit issue March 1, 2022, includes a very stringent Total Phosphorus limit and a stringent Mercury Limit that Eveleth must comply with by March 31, 2029. The existing plant normally meets the proposed mercury limit but cannot meet the total phosphorus limit without improvements. In addition, the plant has some equipment that has aged and requires replacement.
Steps to Compliance:
Eveleth completed pilot testing on two filtration alternatives and submitted MPCA required reports in 2023 and 2024.
- Eveleth completed a Facility Plan, held a public hearing on February 24, 2025, and submitted the Plan to MPCA on February 27, 2025. The Facility Plan determined that the most cost-effective option is to make improvements to the existing wastewater treatment facility. Estimated project cost is $12,600,000.
- Eveleth applied to be placed on the State project funding list (project priority list) on February 27, 2025.
- Eveleth qualifies for multiple grant funds to help pay for the project. The amount of grant funding Eveleth may receive will become clearer once the project list is published in June/July 2025. Most of the grant funds are appropriated by the Minnesota Legislature and until the bonding bill is passed funding agencies won’t know how much money they have to fund projects.
- The next step will be to begin the design which is expected in late 2025. Plans will be submitted to MPCA for review and approval.
- Following plan approval, the project will be publicly advertised for bids. Once bids are received, project funding will be finalized.
- Construction is anticipated to start spring of 2027 and be completed in fall 2028. This will provide several months of operation of updated processes prior to the required compliance date of March 31, 2029.
View the proposed Wastewater Facility Plan here:
