Cost of New Water Plant Won’t be Cheap for New Hampton

The City of Charles City is closing in on the completion of its new Water Resource Reclamation Facility (WRRF) at a cost of about $17.6 million.

The final price tag will come in about $600,000 over the original contract for the project, but City Administrator Steve Diers says they were fortunate to get the WRRF constructed for $5 to $10 million less  than a similar project might cost today. New Hampton Mayor Bobby Schwickerath says he knows that all too well as his city saves up money for a new water treatment plant of their own.

Schwickerath adds that knowing the price is going up makes having to wait to build the facility tough.

The Iowa DNR has given the City until 2036 to have a new water treatment plant in operation.