Clearing the air; Proposal on the table to bring septage treatment facility to the Valley

MAT-SU — Mat-Su Septage LLC formed between the two subsidiaries of JL Septage and Cude Septage. The decision of the Wastewater and Septage Advisory Committee looms next month and David Germer of Mat-Su Septage is hoping to clear the air, quite literally

Germer’s plan for a septage treatment facility adjacent to the landfill would attempt to simplify the process. Currently, septage pumpers have to drive into Anchorage to dump at the facility on Turpin Street, and within two years will have to drive farther into town to dump on King Street. Efforts have been percolating in the Mat-Su Borough for it’s own septage treatment facility. Mat-Su Septage and Evergreen Consortium both presented at the April WSAC meeting, and the committee is expected to make their decision in May.

The building Germer and Mat-Su Septage is proposing would feature 14 21,000 gallon tanks, giving an initial capacity of 294,000 gallons of raw sewage before processing. The building would feature space for more tanks and additional ‘in the rounds’ which rotate the sewage once treated with a polymer to push out the liquids and result in dry sewage for composting. Germer says it was not the cheapest option, but the right one.

“I did it that way for odor because I know that would’ve been something that we would’ve heard about and these people around here are my neighbors,” Germer said. “I wanted people to know there’s a lot of ways you can do this job, and we’re going to do it right and we’ve already discussed it with DEC.”

Instead of driving to and from Anchorage, pumpers would be able to drive to Mat-Su Septage’s proposed facility adjacent the landfill and dump their raw septage, which would go through an initial receiving process and be stored in frac tanks. The raw sewage would have a polymer injected that is used in sewage treatment facilities worldwide to help settle the solids. The sewage would then travel through the ITR tanks, which are large cylindrical containers lined with screens so that as the raw sewage rotates, the liquid is screened out. After 12 hours, the dry sewage is available to be moved to the landfill or composted, potentially.

“What we’re proposing is to resolve once and forever the problem within the Mat-Su Borough,” Germer said.

Germer has lived in the Mat-Su for 33 years and served as the Deputy Borough Manager for two years. His background is as an engineer, and he worked as a groundwater hydrologist after earning his degree. Germer noted the success of Cude with 20 years in the industry, and the attention to detail of JL CEO Jonathan Rubini.

“He is an extraordinarily environmentally responsible guy and it’s not just the words, he puts his money where his mouth is,” Germer said.

Germer noted that Cude is building the Nikiski Disposal Inc. facility, which is near completion and will utilize the same technology Germer hopes to employ in the Mat-Su. Germer strongly believes that the Nikiski facility will be a benefit to the proposed one in the Mat-Su.

“It’s not that this whether or not this is going to work, it’s fine tuning it so we will get the benefit of his and be able to fine tune ours a whole lot quicker because of the knowledge we’re going to gain from his facility in Nikiski,” Germer said.

Germer’s proposal for Mat-Su Septage aims to be complete within one years, and the design and construction will minimize environmental impacts, protect the regions water resources and meet or exceed all regulatory requirements as stated in MSS’s letter to the MSB purchasing officer.

“I firmly believe as a longtime borough resident and an engineer, I firmly believe that our project represents an innovative, environmentally responsible, cost effective, highly reliable, proven solution to the Borough’s long standing septage treatment challenges. I do believe that unequivocally and there isn’t anything else out there today that can stand up to what we’re proposing,” Germer said.

Germer plans to house the tanks in a building similar to one Cude just finished behind the bowling alley. Keeping the tanks inside the building would potentially help curtail odor issues associated with septage treatment. Germer left room for up to 5 ITR’s and extra holding tanks to process the 14 million gallons of septage currently driven in trucks to Anchorage. Germer noted that MSS seeks no financial assistance from the Borough and take full responsibility for all direct costs associated with this effort, as stated in his response to the request for expressions of interest.

Editor’s note: In ‘Wastewater Woes’ published April 16, Sean Cude was incorrectly identified, and JL properties owned Alaska Waste from 2003 to 2011.