Further improvements are on the way for the city’s intricate system of pipes, filtration systems and other critical components of the sewer system.

The Dowagiac City Council approved plans on Monday for the design, purchase, acquisition and construction of a series of improvements to the city’s wastewater treatment plant and other sewage needs. They also approved the future issuance of bonds to help pay for the improvements, not to exceed $2.5 million.

“Over the last four years, we started a master plan process for doing major capital improvements at the wastewater treatment plant,” said City Manager Kevin Anderson. “At the end of that process, one of the engineering firms we worked with recommended that we look at, over a period of time, $7-8 million worth of projects.”

A portion of these projects have already been completed using funds from the city’s capital improvement funds, including the construction of new lift stations, Anderson said. The next two projects the city has set its sights on are overhauling their aeration system and replacing part of the filtration system at the plant, located outside Dowagiac Creek along the outskirts of town on M-62.

“The anticipated cost on this will be about $2.5 million, of which we expect to get around $300,000 in grants for energy credits,” Anderson said.

The remaining funds will be provided through borrowing, and sets them up to be able to use funds underwritten by the State of Michigan, which will drive down interest rates past usual market rates, Anderson said. Advising the city in the issuance of the bonds will be Dickinson Wright PLLC and Robert W. Baird & Co.

The city has been working on this project since 2013, holding a series of public hearings about it. Design work has since been completed, and construction will be ready to be sent out for bid pending approval by the state, Anderson said.

“We’ve been in contact with all the people who use our wastewater treatment plant,” Anderson said. “All the surrounding communities that lead to it understand what coming. We’ve had pretty good communications that way.”

These major improvements will provide several benefits once completed, including saving the city $45,000 annually on electrical use for operations of the facility, the city manager said.

“That’s good news right there,” he said. “That will help pay portions of the bond, in savings and cost.”