Lawrence investigating reason for clog at recently completed $74 million sewer plant

The city’s recently completed $74 million sewage treatment plant has clogged, requiring the city to haul sludge to another plant in order to temporarily clear the plant’s basins and make repairs. Though the plant is fully operational again, city staff says it’s continuing to investigate what caused the clog.

As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission received a report on a payment of $253,800 to Honeybee L.C. for emergency sludge hauling at the Wakarusa Wastewater Treatment Plant. The sludge hauling was necessary to clean out and repair the plant’s aerated sludge diffusers, according to a city staff memo to the commission.