It may not be a topic that is foremost on most people’s minds, but it is a certainty that every home and business in Fayetteville uses its services.

The upgrade to Fayetteville’s wastewater treatment system is complete and is expected to serve the city’s needs for the next several decades. The $12 million project was paid for through increases in water and sewer rates over the past three years.

The computer-controlled upgrade increases wastewater capacity from 3.75 MGD (million gallons per day) to 5.0 MGD, according to city Director of Water Rick Eastin.

Present with other city and county officials at the site Monday for a tour of the facility, Mayor Ken Steele said that, now accomplished, the upgrade will serve the city’s needs for “many decades to come.”

Fayetteville City Council approved a 33 percent rate increase over a three-year period that began in 2006 to cover the cost of the upgrade.

Eastin said the plant is now outfitted with a computer-driven control system. A 4-million-gallon influent equalization basin was added to reduce the shock load, provide for better treatment and provide a holding basin during treatment system problems, he said, adding that new effluent sand filters were installed to remove the possibility of solids being discharged. All existing tankage from the old plant was used in the upgrade project, said Eastin.

The groundbreaking for the upgrade project was held March 10, 2006. The final inspection by Georgia Environmental Protection Division was completed on July 29.