April-May, 1950Concerns about pollution in Clear Lake surface
Concerned about pollution, especially waste-water seepage, Clear Lake promoted a state investigation and survey at an expense of $15,000. The investigation determined that Clear Lake was becoming polluted due to the rapidly increasing use of the lake parks and adjacent areas by thousands of people.
May 4, 1950Sanitary sewer system proposed
A meeting by the Association for the Preservation of Clear Lake was held to discuss a proposed new sanitary sewer system for Clear Lake and the surrounding area.
May 31, 1950Public meeting held
A public meeting was held at the high school auditorium to discuss the pollution concerns and proposed sanitary sewer with presentations by local and state officials.
June 8, 1950 Threat of closing lake to swimming
As reported by the Osage Press, there is a strong indication that the lake will be closed to swimming until the conditions resulting in serious water pollution can be remedied. Up until now, citizens were not convinced the problem was serious enough to warrant a new sanitary sewer. An earlier proposal was defeated, however, this time there seems to be no choice.
October 19, 1950 Sanitary sewer election held
The sanitary sewer election was approved with a margin of 926-265. The estimated cost would be $1,100,000 and petitions are circulated to establish trustees for a sanitary sewer district and apply for funding.
April 20, 1951Governor signs aid bill
Gov. William S. Beardsley signs a bill appropriating $700,00 to aid the sewage disposal plant.
July 27, 1953Construction contract awarded
A bid totaling $1,429,059.76 is awarded to three companies including Henkel Construction of Mason City.
February, 1954 Construction begins
Henkel Construction Company begins excavation and construction of the new sanitary sewer.
July 19, 1956Construction completed
The final link is added to the pipeline, as the sanitary sewer is completed.
September 17, 1956Sanitary Sewer District in operation
Members of the Clear Lake Sanitary District Board of Directors throw the switch and the new sanitary sewer begins operation.
The plant has a design capacity of 24,000 persons for a 30-year period. The initial load was 5,500 persons from the area included within the Clear Lake Sanitary District. The load will gradually increase as more residences are constructed and connected year after year. There is more than twelve miles of main lines in the sewer. There are five pumping stations. Some of the main trunk line is thirty-two feet deep.
June, 1973 Original bond of $609,000 is retired
March 1986Plan submitted to prevent bypass of sewage from treatment facility into lake
December, 1986Permit issued by state Department of Natural Resources
December 20, 1988Administrative order issued by the state to make upgrades to the sanitary sewer system
August 3, 1990State sues Lake Sanitary District
State sues Lake Sanitary District for non-compliance. Fines could be maximum of $5,000 per day for each day it has not complied with the administrative order issued December 20, 1988. ($1,825,000 yearly or $2,955,000 to date)
February, 1992Board approves $13-million improvement plan
June 23, 1995Bids received come in under estimate and are accepted
July, 1995Construction begins on estimated $4-million lift stations
Construction begins on estimated $4.4 million phase: lift stations 5 and 8, new force main pipe connecting to treatment plant, and equilization basin on 24th Street.
July, 1996Construction begins on estimated $9-million treatment plant
January, 1997Phase I completed, total cost $5 million
May, 1998Treatment plant completed
June 20, 1998Downpour causes problems for pump stations 1, 2, & 3.
Untimely torrential downpour of three inches per hour forces Sanitary Sewer District to bypass rain-diluted sewage into the lake instead of allowing residential backup in drains and basements.
July, 1998$10-million dollar grant received
August, 1998Phase 3 completed - Force main Phase 4 completed - Pump stations 1, 2, 3, 4, & 7
September, 1998Construction continues
Renovation begins on pump stations 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7.
Construction begins on force main under lake from lift stations 1, 2, and 3:
lined gravity sewer pipe from Venetian Village canal to pump station 1
lined force main pipe from pump station 2 to Ventura Heights which sits on the bottom of the little lake
force main from station 3 to treatment plant
February, 1999Construction continues
Directional drilling pipe installed under lake by Ozzie's Directional Drilling.
May, 1999Force mains completed
August, 1999Pump-house renovations completed
December, 2001Plant site storm basin project finalized
July, 2003Board of Trustees sign a Service Agreement
Board of Trustees sign a 25 year Service Agreement with Interstate Power and Light (IPL) to supply effluent to assist with the cooling water needs of the Emery Power Generating Station and to receive cooling water discharged back to the sanitary districtÕs treatment plant for direct discharge or treatment.
July, 2009Sump Pump Inspection Program Begins
The Clear Lake Sanitary District, City of Clear Lake, and City of Ventura entered into an agreement with WHKS to perform sump pump inspections for all properties connected to the sanitary sewer system. These inspections were to help reduce the amount of ground water getting into the sanitary sewer system. During storm events the sanitary sewer receives a large amount of storm water from illegal connections that consumes sewer capacity and can cause sewer overload resulting in basement backups or bypassing events. Many homeowners are unaware of illegal connections. The point is not to penalize consumers but to identify and disconnect sources of sewer overloads. Storm water should be conveyed through the watershed (lakes, creeks, rivers) via storm ‘sewer’ pipes and NOT sanitary sewer pipes. These are two distinct separate infrastructure pipe systems.
July 1, 2010Lower sewer consumption rate
Board of Trustees lowered sewer consumption rate from $2.53 per 1,000 gallons to $2.17 per 1,000 gallons.
December, 2010Sump Pump Inspection Program Completed
The sump pumping inspection program was completed by WHKS. An Ordinance was created, requiring a sump pump inspection for new construction and an inspection of properties at the time of sale. This Ordinance ensures that illegal connections will continued to be identified and remedied. The inspection will be conducted by the Clear Lake Sanitary District, City of Clear Lake, and City of Ventura.
June, 2017 $16.3 million Bonds sold to finance 1996-1999 upgrades retired
May, 2019Completion of the UV Disinfection Project
The $1.2 million UV Disinfection project was completed May 31, 2019. Fox Engineering designed the project. The general contractor, Synergy assembled a group of subcontractors that made the project a success. Those key subs include Henkel Construction, Mechanical Air, and Schammel Electric.