Lester Prairie Benefits from Biosolid Recycling
The city of Lester Prairie, Minnesota is home to an award-winning class “A” wastewater treatment facility managed by PeopleService operator Lee Ortloff. In 2007, the city completed a multi-million upgrade to their wastewater plant to address future population growth and new water quality mandates from the state. In 2012, they completed their water treatment plant. Lester Prairie is also home to a very successful biosolid recycling program. “The biosolid program in Lester Prairie is a positive for everyone involved,” said Lee Ortloff. “We can apply the biosolids we process here and nearby to the land here and in the neighboring town. The result is a program with a revenue stream for the city that keeps costs down and helps prevent rate increases during periods when the economy is tighter.”
According to Adam Birkholtz, Economic/Community Development Coordinator for Lester Prairie, “One of the keys to our biosolid program’s success is that the city maintains the workforce and equipment to facilitate our hauling, so we don’t contract out those responsibilities. This helps keep the program profitable. Lester Prairie was one of the first cities in our area to partner with PeopleService. It’s a partnership that really works.”