Last week Minnesota Governor Tim Walz toured the City of Bemidji’s drinking water treatment plant, which was designed by Barr and is currently under construction. This first phase of the treatment plant was designed to provide the city with state-compliant drinking water as soon as reasonable and, when complete, will remove iron, manganese, and per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the city’s drinking water supply.
Read this project example to learn more about Barr’s work with the City of Bemidji to improve the quality of its drinking water.
Walz’s visit came as part of his effort to tour sites that benefit from the $1.9 billion bonding bill passed by the state legislature earlier in October. The City of Bemidji was awarded $10.1 million from this bill for the water treatment plant’s next phase, which will include a more efficient filter backwash system, offices, and additional treatment capacity to accommodate future demand.
Technical lead Brian LeMon said, “The funding received through the bonding bill was an important step in the city’s journey to providing its citizens with an affordable, compliant, and resilient water supply.”
LeMon, along with Katie Wolohan, guided Walz on his tour of the plant and were joined by Bemidji Mayor Rita Albrecht. The current phase of construction is expected to be completed in January 2021.