Submitted by Peter Narsavage on Sun, 03/29/2009 - 2:31pm
The Portage/Catawba Island Township Sewer System, 1992
Owner: Board of Ottawa County Commissioners
Location: Catawba Island, Portage Township, Ottawa County
Nominated by: Warren E. Henry, P.E., Findbeiner, Pettis & Strout, Ltd.
Description: This project was unique from initial conception to final completion. Encouraging public involvement during planning, preservation of a sole source shallow rock aquifer, wetlands protection, seasonal population changes ten times greater than the year-round population, multiple agency review and approvals, acquisition of over 1,000 easements, the magnitude of the improvements which included over 45 miles of sewers, 45 pumping stations and a 1.34 MGD treatment plant, construction coordination, assessments, public hearings, and project financing each in themselves offered significant challenges. Combining all these factors resulted in a tremendously complex project. Many doubted whether the project was feasible at all.
