Posted May 24, 2011

Beaver Dam residents have a new reason to cheer...Their new wastewater treatment facility (WWTF) has been awarded the prestigious PISCES Award! The Performance and Innovation in the SRF (State Revolving Fund) Creating Environmental Success Award is granted to only ten plants in the United States each year. It recognizes innovative partnerships, efficient water use, and creative use of technologies, among other things. The EPA and Wisconsin DNR presented this award to the City on May 23, 2011.

The City of Beaver Dam hired Applied Technologies, Inc. in 2009 to design the cutting-edge Upgrade and Bioenergy Project at its WWTF. Beaver Dam also partnered with Kraft Foods  to produce high-quality biogas. Kraft's cream cheese production produces high-strength wastewater, which is then pumped to the Beaver Dam WWTF. Since high-strength wastes are optimal for producing biogas, a "green" energy source, Kraft's wastes will be used to power two combined heat and power (CHP) engine-generators that will produce approximately 800 kW of bioenergy that will be sold to Alliant Energy.

This project was completed in 2011 and will provide the City with a revenue stream of over $500,000 annually and power for approximately 800 homes in the City. The waste heat from the CHP engines will make the plant energy self-sufficient.