HUMBOLDT — The Humboldt City Council voted unanimously Monday to approve a loan application for wastewater treatment plant improvements estimated at $5.4 million. The application is scheduled to be submitted Thursday, Oct. 15.
The plant, built in 1966, faces deteriorating infrastructure, aging equipment and capacity limitations. It can process 250,000 gallons per day but routinely receives more wastewater, particularly during heavy rains, and exceeded its capacity during five months in 2025.
The project would increase capacity to 300,000 gallons per day, improve sludge handling, replace pumps, blowers and valves, and rehabilitate damaged liners. The facility also was not designed to meet current nitrogen and phosphorus removal requirements.
With assistance from the Southeast Kansas Regional Planning Commission, Humboldt has applied for a $450,000 Kansas Water Office grant. Approximately $4.9 million would likely be financed through the Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund, managed by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
City Administrator Cole Herder said the project has an estimated three-year timeline. Following a presentation by AECOM civil engineer Zhengxi Li, the council approved the loan application 6-0, with members Robert Bingaman and Tim Francis absent.
In other business, the council approved $12,200 in additional repairs to the city’s largest water tower after crews discovered roof holes, a damaged vent and a damaged ladder standoff. Maguire, the company already under contract, will complete the work, bringing total repair costs for the city’s two water towers to $771,100.
