(KAIR)--The City of Atchison has approved the upgrade of its wastewater flow monitoring system to stay in compliance with state regulations. Under a consent order with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the City is required to measure, record, and report wastewater overflows, also known as bypasses.

Bypasses typically happen during heavy rain, when stormwater mixes with sanitary sewage and overwhelms the collection system. That excess flow can happen at one or more of the City’s seven overflow locations.

City of Atchison Public Works & Utilities Director, Clinton McNemee, during the December 15 meeting of the City Commission, explained to the city leaders that the current flow monitors, installed in 2019, have caused ongoing problems.

An EPA inspection earlier this year reinforced the importance of complying with the consent order, with City staff, after the inspection, researching more reliable monitoring options with stronger service support; and, after reviewing several systems, acceptance of a proposal from Mission Kansas-based Axiom Instrumentation Services, which already works with both the City’s water and wastewater treatment departments, was recommended at a cost of just over $143,000 thousand dollars.

Following McNemee's presentation, Commission discussion was held, with Commissioner Bill Murphy questioning the methodology behind the expenditure.

City Manager Mark Westhoff explained that making the upgrade will look good to KDHE in the big picture. 

Ultimately, the expenditure was approved on a vote of 3 to 2, with Murphy and fellow Commissioner, Mike Slattery, voting against.