With anticipated growth, the community needs to decide how to treat its wastewater responsibility. Certain sewer collections lines will be at capacity in 2 to 4 years. The regional wastewater treatment plant in Traverse City will be at capacity in 5 to 10 years. Residents and businesses will find it difficult and expensive to have their septic and holding tanks pumped because of increasing regulations and less available land. Village systems will also be facing capacity problems which need to be addressed in the future.
Much more research is necessary to determine the most effective conservation program.
There are a number of communities which have instituted aggressive conservation programs, whose experience will be beneficial. One plant will be located on the east side of the Boardman River and one on the west side. The facilities will be phased to match demand and will provide for expansion. The satellite plants would have the capacity to take septage, reducing the cost for both sewer and on-site system users. A study to determine if the current Traverse City Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant could be upgraded to increase capacity and improve the discharge was completed in early January 2001.