Two Rivers’ Public Utilities Committee got a progress report on major 2025–2026 sewer and water work, including a possible new financing option so homeowners aren’t forced to pay private-side sewer work in one lump sum. The committee also heard that PFAS levels in wastewater are trending close to an expected limit, with the landfill likely a major source.
Key Decisions
Staff said WDNR is pushing the city to consider a 20-year financing option for the homeowner-paid “private side” sewer lateral work tied to the 2026 lead service lateral replacement contract—potentially replacing a 90-day pay deadline with a long-term payment plan (with interest).
PFAS/PFOS testing in wastewater is trending around 126 against an anticipated limit of 140, and staff expects landfill sampling to show the landfill is a major PFAS source—setting up decisions about a minimization plan, targeted sampling, and possible grant-funded treatment at the landfill.
Staff flagged ongoing inflow and infiltration (extra groundwater/stormwater getting into sewers): the city sends out about 1 million gallons/day of drinking water but treats about 2 million gallons/day at the wastewater plant. For now, staff said it’s cheaper to treat the extra water than to chase a full system fix, but they’ll look for low-cost reductions.
Public Input
No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.
Agenda Items
Contract 2-2026 Lead Service Lateral Replacement
Staff said this contract is out to bid, with bids opening Feb. 10. The big resident-facing issue: WDNR is exploring whether the city can offer homeowners a long-term financing option for the private-side sanitary lateral work, instead of requiring full payment within 90 days. That could make required work more manageable for households, but it would also mean the city carries the debt for up to 20 years and has to prove reductions in sewer inflow/infiltration—something staff said still lacks a clear measurement method.
Staff reported PFOS/PFOA sampling is required under the city’s WDNR discharge permit, with results due to WDNR in July. They said trends are around 126 with an anticipated limit of 140, and prior sampling confirmed PFAS is present in the effluent—meaning the city could be required to write a PFAS minimization plan depending on final results. Staff also expects the landfill to show PFAS levels high enough to be a major source, and they’re already talking with WDNR about narrowing the scope of any required investigation and looking into possible EPA/WDNR funding for treatment at the landfill before it hits the sewer system.
Staff laid out a clear sign the sewer system is taking on extra water: about 1 MGD goes out as drinking water, but about 2 MGD comes into the wastewater plant. They said flows spike during spring thaw and heavy rain and take days to settle, which points to leaks and stormwater getting into the sewer system. The committee heard there’s no immediate operational crisis, and staff’s current stance is that treating the extra water is cheaper than a full-scale fix—so they’ll focus on obvious, low-cost repairs and see if they can measure any reduction.
The committee discussed how the city should screen large electric/water/sewer users, using a Kaukauna ordinance about AI data centers as an example of basic checks before allowing a high-demand user to locate in town. Members agreed that, in the right circumstances, “wet industries” shouldn’t be automatically ruled out. The minutes note no follow-up action is expected, which leaves this as more of a general conversation than a policy direction residents can track yet.
Staff said new WDNR requirements are driving a major push to inspect water service lines and document what they’re made of, with a deadline of fall 2027. This matters because it helps the city target lead service line replacement work and avoid surprises when bidding future projects. Staff is pairing these inspections with water meter replacements, using winter as the best time to get into homes and complete the checks.