Casper seeks to avoid $50 million water treatment bill due to selenium levels

Casper’s effort to lower selenium levels in its water during the coming year will be tested in 2018 when the city’s wastewater treatment plant must apply for a new permit from the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality.

If the DEQ finds that selenium levels are too high, it could require Casper to build a facility to remove the chemical, potentially costing the city up to $50 million.

“We have been very concerned about pending potential EPA regulations that might require us to make some major upgrades,” said councilman Charlie Powell at a Dec. 21 council meeting.

While the DEQ grants permits to wastewater plants, the agency relies on the federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines.

Read more: http://trib.com/news/local/casper/casper-seeks-to-avoid-million-water-treatment-bill/article_b0bd8b07-5c01-5ac2-a42d-6ffc517532b8.html