The American Council of Engineering Companies of Iowa awards engineering firms participating in projects that are judged to meet the Owner’s need for the project and demonstrate “Originality, Uniqueness and New Applications of Existing Technology”. The projects must also add to the “Technical Value of the Engineering Profession” and must consider “Social and Economic Factors” as well as be of a complex nature. This award was given to Kuehl and Payer, Ltd. of Storm Lake for their role in the final planning, design and construction administration of the Wastewater Improvements completed for the City of Strawberry Point.

The project started with a study of the need for relief of overloaded sanitary sewers. During the study it was learned that both of the City’s wastewater treatment lagoons were overloaded and required either upgrading or replacement.

The final project included innovative approaches to both the handling and treatment of the City’s wastewater.The two (2) existing lagoons were replaced with one (1) new treatment system located in the vicinity of the City’s south lagoons. A pumping station was installed at the north lagoon to transfer wastewater from the north part of Strawberry Point to combine it with wastewater from the south areas so both areas could be treated in the same system.  A main lift station was constructed at the south edge of Strawberry Point with a new force main constructed to convey the waste to the new treatment system.