Site work for a water / sewer project in Dubuque, Iowa. Conceptual plans call for site work for a water / sewer project.

This project provides for facility improvements at the Water & Resource Recovery Center (WRRC) to meet nutrient reduction requirements and increase the plants treatment capacity for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), and flow. The WRRC was issued a new NPDES permit on April 1, 2025, which-like the previous permit-includes requirements supporting the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Specifically, the permit requires the City to prepare and submit a report evaluating the feasibility and reasonableness of reducing nitrogen and phosphorus discharges to surface waters. The report must be submitted no later than November 1, 2027, and will serve as an addendum to the Nutrient Reduction Study previously submitted to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Funding of $35,000 in FY27 is provided to prepare this updated nutrient reduction report, which will evaluate new and emerging treatment technologies for nitrogen and phosphorus removal and update the implementation schedule for achieving a 66% reduction in total nitrogen and a 75% reduction in total phosphorus, consistent with IDNR’s nutrient reduction strategy. The City is currently developing a comprehensive Facility Plan for the WRRC, expected to be completed by the end of calendar year 2027. The Facility Plan will assess future treatment needs, evaluate system capacity, and identify the timing and scale of major improvements required to meet regulatory and community demands. It is anticipated that nutrient reduction improvements may be most cost-effective when implemented in conjunction with larger facility upgrades needed to accommodate increased BOD and TSS loadings. It is also likely that advancement of preliminary design or related improvements will be necessary within the five-year CIP period to address nutrient reduction requirements and maintain permit compliance. The findings of the Facility Plan will guide the scope, sequencing, and funding of these future efforts to ensure coordinated, efficient, and sustainable investments in Dubuque’s wastewater infrastructure The project is included in the City's 2027-2032 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). As of June 24, 2026, further details have not yet been identified. *Project information has been obtained through a public capital improvement plan (CIP). A CIP is a financial schedule for short- and long-range projects which is updated regularly. Information listed in the CIP often evolves based on funding availability and the project details, including timeline and value, are subject to change. The content management team will continue to pursue additional details as they become available.