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Richard Denny of Jones & Henry Engineering began work at Warsaw's wastewater facility Monday, as part of the city's remedial action stemming from a sewage spill this summer. He will work as a Class IV operator, responsible for daily reports.
Doug Bookhart also is working at the treatment plant as a consultant, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins advised the city council Monday.
No one at the treatment plant has left the city's employ.
City officials will meet with representatives of Indiana Department of Environmental Management Jan. 24 regarding a toxic spill from the wastewater treatment plant into Walnut Creek last summer.
The two Jones & Henry men, serving in a consulting capacity, cost $650 per day. They will work five days a week for a while, the mayor said.
"We have to have someone else take a look around. IDEM has been in periodically, monitoring things," he said.
In July, August and September, sludge and untreated or partially treated wastewater - quantities of surficant, polymer, whole effluent and diesel fuel - killed fish and left a deposit of sludge in the stream bed, extending to the Tippecanoe River.
In addition to possible fines established by IDEM, the city or individuals face pending criminal charges by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. So far neither organization has indicated the extent of any charges.
IDEM's notice of violations contained 15 items of non-compliance.
