Water/Wastewater

The water and wastewater departments are operated by Alliance Water Resources, Inc.

Water

The City of Maquoketa’s current water treatment plant has been in operation since May of 2006. It is an ion exchange softening treatment plant. This type of treatment has many benefits for citizens beyond clean, safe drinking water. Because the water is treated much like a home water softener, water users enjoy reduced cost and usage of soaps and cleansers and less hard-water buildup.

maquoketa water plant building

The ion exchange facility is capable of producing 1.44 million gallons per day (MGD) of potable water. The water is supplied to the plant via four wells. Chlorine and fluoride are added prior to the water entering the distribution system and carefully monitored by licensed water operations personnel. The distribution system (from the treatment plant to users) consists of approximately 25 miles of water mains, two water towers with a 750,000 gallon total capacity and a ground storage tank with a 1,200,000 gallon capacity. It is a grade III facility.

The story of Maquoketa’s ion exchange system was published in partnership with operations and maintenance provider Alliance Water Resources. The article was featured in the September and November 2007 issues of Cityscape, the magazine of the Iowa League of Cities.

water tanks

Wastewater

Wastewater in the City of Maquoketa is treated under the supervision of licensed wastewater treatment professionals to meet strict standards set by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Wastewater enters the treatment process from homes, businesses and other users and is subjected to multiple steps of separation and clarification. Wastewater that has completed the treatment process, or effluent, is discharged into the Maquoketa River.

wastewater building

The wastewater treatment facilities consists of 5 lift stations, bar screen, grit removal, 2 aeration basins, 2 clarifiers, chlorination and de-chlorination chambers, and an aerobic thermophilic sludge process. Chemicals used at the plant include chlorine for disinfection and sulfur dioxide for de-chlorination. This is a Grade III facility.

After it has been processed, the “solid” leftover from the wastewater treatment, called sludge, is stored in a 1.4 million gallon holding lagoon, and is later applied to nearby fields; a solution that is environmentally friendly and beneficial for local farmlands.

wastewater plant

Board Members

Name Title
Jennifer Schwoob Director