Location:  Village of Spencer, Wisconsin

Application:  Sewage Treatment
Building Size:  55′ wide x 62′ long

“I would recommend Structures Unlimited to anyone.  The galvanized steel and fabric is not going to rot and any condensation problems are eliminated with the natural ventilation created by the six inch center ridge vent.  The fabric cover provides a natural drying effect in the interior when the sun hits the fabric.”

Structures Unlimited Sewage Treatment Plant Solution

The Village of Spencer Sewage Treatment Plant manages the sewage for a population of 1800 people plus sludge from a few surrounding large industries. The community required a building to cover two sewage tanks to prevent freezing problems. The two tanks hold 165,000 gallons each, enough storage space to last 180 days. The Wisconsin winters would continually freeze the sludge and hinder the growth of much needed bacteria that is needed to process the sewage sludge into fertilizer for agricultural use.

The Village of Spencer board decided that covering the two outdoor tanks would be a worthwhile investment to produce a consistent ag fertilizer product and to minimize winter maintenance issues. They decided to purchase a 55′ w x 62′ Structures Unlimited building.  “The building creates a solar effect and keeps the heat in during the winter,” says Gerald Marden, Sewage Treatment Plant Operator. “Our aeration process to keep bacteria alive works at full capacity every day of the year now, we no longer have freezing problems.”

“We looked at pole barns but the moisture and condensation would have easily rotted the wood and created algae growth on the walls. We would have also had an on-going maintenance issue to prevent the ventilation from freezing up,” says Marden. “With the Structures Unlimited building, the galvanized steel and fabric is not going to rot and any condensation problems are eliminated with the natural ventilation created by the six inch center ridge vent. The fabric cover provides a natural drying effect in the interior when the sun hits the fabric.”

Installation of the building was done over the sewage tanks while the tanks were still in use. The foundation anchors were drilled into the concrete wall of the storage tanks. A crane was used to lift the structure’s galvanized steel trusses into position. A zoom boom was used to install the cross purlins and the fabric cover. Installation of the building took only five days.

“I would recommend a Structures Unlimited building to anyone,” says Marden. “We have far less machinery maintenance issues that were normally caused by ice build-up. The building went up very quickly and it blends in well with the surrounding buildings.”