Recycling Treated Municipal Wastewater for Industrial Water Use

Section 3
Inventory of Major WWTPs and Potential Industrial Reuse Demands
Craddock Consulting Engineers 3-13
In Association with CDM & James Crook
WWReuseTM1_Sec 3_final.doc
Industries and Proximity to WWTPs
Figure 3.9b presents the location of the industries and WWTPs in the Des Moines
River watershed. Table 3.9c lists the various industries and their distance from the
closer of the two WWTPs. The agricultural processing industries are all located
within 3 miles of a WWTP. The Heron Lake WWTP is not shown because its design
capacity of 0.1 mgd is less than 1 mgd. The ethanol plant and wastewater treatment
plant modifications for Heron Lake will be investigated further in Task 2. One sand
and gravel business is located about 4 miles from the Windom WWTP, while the
other businesses are located more than 10 miles from a WWTP.
Table 3.9c. Industries in the Des Moines River Watershed
2004 Water
Distance to
WWTP, Closest
Industry Name Source* Use, mgd miles WWTP Industry Category
HERON LAKE, CITY OF G 0.089 9.6 Windom Agricultural Processing
HERON LAKE, CITY OF G 0.098 9.6 Windom Agricultural Processing
PM WINDOM G 0.200 6.5 Windom Agricultural Processing
PM WINDOM G 0.077 6.5 Windom Agricultural Processing
PM WINDOM G 0.098 6.5 Windom Agricultural Processing
WORTHINGTON RENDERING S 0.003 1.7 Worthington Agricultural Processing
WILLETT GRAVEL CO S 0.001 >10 Windom Non-Metallic Processing
MUECKE SAND & GRAVEL, R A S 0.100 >10 Windom Sand and Gravel Washing
WINDOM READY MIX INC S 0.000 3.3 Windom Sand and Gravel Washing
WINDOM READY MIX INC
* G=Ground Water; S=Surface Water
Source: MDNR, 2004
S 0.000 7.1 Windom Sand and Gravel Washing
Factors Influencing Potential for Industrial Reuse
The Des Moines River watershed is in Ground Water Area 5, represented by limited
bedrock and buried sand aquifers and moderate producing surficial sand aquifers.
The water quality of the buried sand and gravel and Cretaceous aquifers often yield
water of poor natural quality, typically high in sulfate and total dissolved solids. The
highest yielding aquifers in this region are mostly narrow, channel outwash deposits
which are susceptible to contamination, notably nitrates. Many residents rely on rural
water supply systems because domestic wells are contaminated with nitrates. The
area around Worthington and the central portion of the watershed is typically less
susceptible to contamination than the other areas.
Water quantity of appropriate quality has been an issue for potable water suppliers of
this watershed. The cities of Luverne and Worthington, the Lincoln-Pipestone Rural
Water System and Rock County Rural Water System are working with communities
in South Dakota and Iowa to provide another source of water to the Des Moines and
Missouri River watersheds in Minnesota’s borders: the Lewis and Clark Rural Water
System.