EPA tells Wrangell it needs to disinfect its sewage discharge

WRANGELL — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced that its updated permit for the Wrangell wastewater treatment plant will contain stricter limits on the amounts of bacteria the facility can discharge into Zimovia Strait.

Wrangell will need to update its treatment operation to include disinfection of discharged wastewater, which will decrease fecal coliform and enterococcus bacteria counts. The borough will have five years to comply with new requirements.

Disinfection will be “a major project for us,” said Borough Manager Jeff Good. He estimates that implementing additional treatme...