Member Spotlight- City of McPherson Wastewater Plant
The City of McPherson’s Wastewater Treatment Facility recently welcomed community members for a Chamber Connections event at its location on Treatment Plant Road, offering an inside look at the essential services it provides. Public Works Director Eric Duerksen highlighted several recent accomplishments. “We just finished up is a master plan for the treatment plant,” Duerksen said. Developed with the help of an engineering firm, the plan examined the long-term future of the facility, evaluating how it can continue to meet technological advancements and accommodate McPherson’s anticipated growth over the next 30 years. The study also addressed whether a second treatment plant would be needed elsewhere in the city, ultimately concluding that the current site remains the best option. “The master plan really showed us that where we’re at is a good location,” Duerksen explained, noting that the facility’s licensed capacity of two million gallons per day is sufficient for future growth and can be expanded if necessary.
The treatment plant’s long history was shared by Superintendent Mike Wagner, who has worked for the City of McPherson for 36 years. Wagner explained that the facility has operated at its current location since 1931, when two separate wastewater plants were consolidated into one. “The plant’s been here since 1931,” Wagner said. “About every 20 years, is when we would see a major change, mechanical upgrade—usually, it’s driven by regulation.” One of the most significant upgrades came in 1990 when McPherson became the first municipal wastewater facility in Kansas to implement Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) technology. Standing beside one of the facility’s four SBR tanks, Wagner explained the process: “Sequencing means you go from one to the other, and batch is just that. We treat in batches.” The automated system fills and treats wastewater in stages, using aerobic bacteria to break down waste efficiently while producing far less odor than systems that rely on anaerobic bacteria.
Following biological treatment, the water undergoes aeration and ultraviolet disinfection before being reused or released. Wagner described the aeration process simply: “We’re just doing like a fish tank. We’re just adding air to it.” The treated water is reused throughout the facility, irrigates Turkey Creek Golf Course, and is supplied to CHS Refinery for industrial reuse. The plant is staffed by seven employees and continues to meet increasingly stringent environmental standards through ongoing improvements and award-winning operations. Duerksen said the recently completed master plan provides a strong foundation for the future. “The master plan has given us a lot of information. It’s given us a lot of good data to be able to help move into the next 30 years, and that’s what we’re excited about.” While most residents rarely think about wastewater treatment, the facility’s work remains critical to protecting public health, supporting economic development, and ensuring McPherson’s continued growth. Visit the City of McPherson website to learn more. To see photos from Chamber Connections hosted by the City of McPherson’s Wastewater Treatment go here.