Dubuque secures $5.2 million in SRF loans for wastewater pumping and treatment upgrades

Dubuque secures $5.2 million in SRF loans for wastewater pumping and treatment upgradesThe City Council has authorized borrowing for the rehabilitation of the Terminal Street Pumping Station and the replacement of industrial controls at the Water & Resource Recovery Center, emphasizing that the latter is routine maintenance unrelated to a prior facility explosion.

The council approved a resolution to borrow up to $2,542,000 for the Terminal Street Pumping Station Rehabilitation Project.

An additional $2,663,000 in SRF borrowing was authorized for the Water & Resource Recovery Center Industrial Controls Project.

The City Manager clarified the WRRC controls upgrade is routine maintenance and not tied to a previous explosion at the facility.

The council also awarded a construction contract to JQ Construction, LLC for Phase 2 of the private lead service line replacement pilot program.

The City of Dubuque, Iowa, is moving forward with major investments in its wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure, authorizing more than $5.2 million in borrowing through the State Revolving Fund (SRF) program. During its regular session, the City Council held public hearings and subsequently approved resolutions to enter into Sewer Revenue Loan and Disbursement Agreements. The funding package includes a principal amount not to exceed $2,663,000 for the Water & Resource Recovery Center (WRRC) Industrial Controls Project. City Manager Michael Van Milligen addressed the council to clarify that this project involves the replacement of the facility's existing control system as part of routine maintenance, explicitly noting that it is unrelated to a previous explosion at the treatment plant. The council also authorized up to $2,542,000 in SRF borrowing for the Terminal Street Pumping Station Rehabilitation Project to upgrade collection system infrastructure. In addition to the wastewater SRF loans, the city is advancing several drinking water capital projects. The council awarded a construction contract to JQ Construction, LLC for Phase 2 of the city's private lead service line replacement pilot program. Furthermore, the city approved a $50,000 Water Revenue Capital Loan Note planning and design loan, also through the SRF program, for a lead water main replacement project. In other water-related business, the council approved a $60,000 estimated contract for the JFK Water Tower interior piping and expansion joint replacement project. Because the estimate exceeded the fiscal year 2027 expense budget of $50,000, city staff noted that the overage will be covered by available funds from the water storage rehabilitation program.