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Project Sponsor
South Fork Coeur d’Alene River Sewer District (SFSD)
Purpose
This project installs a tertiary treatment system at the Page Wastewater Treatment Plant, operated by the South Fork Sewer District (SFSD). The facility currently treats most of the wastewater in the Silver Valley from Kingston to Wallace, serving a population of 7,055. This project may also enable Smelterville to connect to the treatment system, furthering potential pollutant reduction.
Funding
This project received $17 million from Governor Little’s Leading Idaho initiative and $4.4 million was added to this award for additional work.
Current Status
Construction began in spring 2025 and will be completed during summer of 2026. Three buildings are being added to the site for tertiary treatment: a solids contact clarifier, a tertiary treatment building, and a rapid mix box.
- Tertiary Treatment Building – Plumbing, electrical, and process piping was completed beneath the building slab. The floor was poured and the contractor began erecting the structural steel for the pre-engineered metal building in November 2025. Installation of the roof and walls were completed in February 2026. Installation of the interior plumbing, HVAC, electrical systems, and process piping is currently in progress and is scheduled for completion in July 2026.
- Solids Contact Clarifier – The structure has been built and was completed in four pours. The structure passed all hydrostatic testing in March. The contractor completed installation of the SCC mechanism and has begun coordinating on equipment startup and testing which will commence in July 2026.
- Rapid Mix Box – Construction of the Rapid Mix Box was completed in May 2026. Crews began setting the equipment, including the davit crane, while electrical crews initiated wiring for the mixers, pH probe, and turbidity meter. Start-up and testing on the equipment are scheduled for completion in July 2026.
- General Site Work: Favorable spring weather accelerated progress on yard piping, including installation for the SCC and Rapid Mix Box, as well as non-potable and potable water lines and geotube piping. The electrical contractor continues conduit and vault installation. The general contractor is also progressing work in the geotube area, including preparation of the base course. Site work is anticipated to continue through July 2026, targeting an early August completion.
SFSD and DEQ are in the initial stages of gathering information from the City of Smelterville for potential integration, which would further reduce phosphorus discharge to the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River.
Outcome
This project is expected to reduce current phosphorus loading to the South Fork Coeur d’Alene River by 7,015 pounds annually.