VINELAND, Minn., May 30, 2002 - Continuing its relationship with Midwest region Indian tribes, USFilter was awarded a contract by ML Wastewater Management, Inc., a not-for-profit company chartered under the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Statutes, to provide a regional wastewater treatment plant serving over 25 square miles of commercial and residential facilities for both Native American and non-Native community members in a two county area surrounding Lake Mille Lacs.
Due to growth within the region both on and off reservation, increased tourism, and a history of failing commercial and residential septic systems, the regional area needed to address its wastewater treatment needs. An important factor in deciding whether to work with USFilter was its long-standing relationship and reputation with state-of-the-art treatment technology and its history of highly reliable systems in northern climates. USFilter has provided similar installations to tribes in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota.
The $19.5 million facility will combine integrated technologies from USFilter: advanced control systems, biological treatment, influent and effluent equalization and advanced filtration. Combining two top technologies, USFilter, through its Jet Tech Products group, will provide three OMNIFLO™ sequencing batch reactors integrated with a Hydro-Clear® sand filter engineered by Zimpro Products. USFilter's Control Systems will provide integrated controls systems for the Mille Lacs plant and pumping stations using the sophisticated Honeywell PlantScape® HMI/SCADA system and D620i controllers.
The integrated system will treat wastewater from both reservation and off-reservation communities comprised of two counties, two townships, and several local communities.
"This project has been a landmark of cooperation and partnership from the start between Federal, State, and local governments, contractors, and suppliers. USFilter and Vesco have stepped up to the plate to join this unique partnership and provide a dynamic solution for cleaning up one of Minnesota's premier recreational areas," said Robert B. Szrot, P.E. of ML Wastewater Management Inc.
The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe have always had strong beliefs regarding the environment. The Band believes that every action must be considered as to how it impacts on seven generations. So, when it was determined that the best solution to the regional wastewater problem was through a cooperation and sharing of resources by both Native and non-Native communities the tribe was committed to finding a proven, reliable treatment technology, added Szrot.
United States Filter Corp., a Vivendi Environnement company, is North America's largest water company providing comprehensive water and wastewater systems and services to commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers.
Vivendi Environnement (Paris Bourse: VIE and NYSE:VE), comprised of Vivendi Water (worldwide water products and services), Onyx (solid waste and industrial services), Dalkia (energy management), Connex (transportation and logistics) and FCC (Spanish company engaged in environmental and construction related industries), is the largest environmental services company in the world with more than 295,000 employees, including FCC, in about 100 countries and annual revenues of more than $25.6 billion. Visit the company's web sites at www.usfilter.com or www.vivendienvironnement-finance.com.
