Massena Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements

Story Construction successfully completed comprehensive upgrades to the City of Massena’s wastewater treatment facility, modernizing the existing three-cell aerated lagoon system to meet updated Iowa Department of Natural Resources effluent standards.

The project scope included replacing outdated mechanical aerators with a high-efficiency fine bubble aeration system and blowers, desludging the existing lagoons with beneficial land application of removed material, and constructing a new four-cell Submerged Attached Growth Reactor (SAGR) to enhance year-round nitrification performance. An advanced ultraviolet disinfection system and new control structures were installed to improve treatment reliability, and a standby electrical generator with automatic transfer switch was added to ensure continuous operation during power interruptions.

Construction began in late summer 2020 after Story Construction was awarded the contract as the successful low bidder. Early work focused on draining and desludging the lagoons to facilitate installation of the new aeration system and associated piping. Story crews built the blower building through the winter and prepared the ground for excavation of the SAGR system in spring. The four SAGR cells were assembled using pre-built wood-framed wall panels, then backfilled with clean rock and outfitted with air distribution piping.

Throughout the project, Story Construction self-performed key elements of the work, including concrete, process piping, framing of the SAGR cells and support structures, installation of hydraulic baffles, and placement of erosion stone around the lagoons.

This upgrade enhances the plant’s treatment capabilities, supports regulatory compliance, and strengthens the community’s wastewater infrastructure for long-term operation.