OUR GEM: Coeur d’Alene’s wastewater history
In 1939, the city of Coeur d’Alene began treating its wastewater at a brand-new facility. This plant used secondary treatment, a new level of technology just beginning to be seen in large cities, but almost unheard of in small communities like ours, with a population of barely 10,000.
Motivated by a desire to be a good neighbor and environmental stewards, the city was also curious. How effective could this new process be in protecting our river? The results were remarkable. Instead of removing about 50% of the solids, typical for treatment plants at the time, our secondary process removed up to 95% of solids.
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