In Medford a large amount of wastewater moves from homes, businesses, institutions and industries via a sanitary sewer system to a central point, the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The purpose of the Wastewater Treatment Plant is to remove the nutrients from the wastewater prior to discharging the flow into the Little Black River. The Wastewater Treatment Plant also receives hauled in waste from surrounding counties and municipalities.
The Wastewater Treatment plant is rated to treat up to 1.45 million gallons per day. Due to successful infiltration and inflow reductions, average flows are about 600,000 gallons per day, while serving a population of nearly 4,400. The Wastewater Treatment Plant does an exceptional job of nutrient removal, consistently removing nutrients from the incoming wastewater; while consistently meeting permit requirements set by the DNR. Major treatment processes include: preliminary treatment, which is fine screening and grit removal; extended aeration with biological phosphorus removal, final clarification, tertiary filtration with ultra low phosphorus removal, seasonal disinfection with UV light and cascade aeration prior to discharge to the Little Black River. Sludge is aerobically digested to Class B biosolids and dewatered on a belt press, and land applied.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant also runs a certified lab testing wastewater for the treatment plant and surrounding communities along with drinking water samples for public and private water supply.
The plant was constructed In 1938 and a major renovation was completed in 1988. In 1999 chemical addition for phosphorus removal was added. In 2016 an anoxic zone was added for biological phosphorus removal and in 2019 the plant achieved an ultra-low phosphorus award through the American Council of Engineering Companies. In 2021 the plant completed upgrades to its solids thickening and digestion, in 2022 the treatment plant and staff were named the Facility of the Year by the WI DNR. (read the article here). In 2023-2024 the plant is undergoing renovations for fine bubble aeration, ammonium and dissolved oxygen controlled aeration.
Wastewater Rates
Sanitary sewer service customers are classified into two categories:
CATEGORY A:
Those sanitary sewer users who discharge normal domestic strength wastewater with concentrations of B.O.D. no greater than 290 mg/L, suspended solids no greater than 340 mg/L, phosphorus no greater than 7 mg/L, and nitrogen no greater than 35 mg/L.
Current Rates:
| Fixed Monthly Charge | $7.33 |
| Volume Charge per 1,000 gallons | $6.10 |
CATEGORY B:
Those sanitary sewer users who discharge wastewater with concentrations of B.O.D. in excess of 290 mg/L, suspended solids in excess of 340 mg/L, phosphorus greater than 7 mg/L, and nitrogen in excess of 35 mg/L. Users whose wastewater exceeds any one of these parameters shall be in Category B.
Current Rates:
| Fixed Monthly Charge | $ 7.33 |
| Volume Charge per 1,000 gallons | $ 6.10 |
| Surchages: | |
| B.O.D. greater than 290 mg/L | $ 0.68/lb |
| Suspended solids greater than 340 mg/L | $ 0.46/lb |
| Nitrogen greater than 35 mg/L | $ 1.60/lb |
| Phosphorus greater than 7 mg/L | $11.33/lb |
Hauled in Waste Permits
Contact the Wastewater Department for inquiries regarding Wastewater permits. (715) 748-4122