Davenport City officials unveiled a significant $27 million upgrade to the digester program during the FY 2026 budget presentation, marking a pivotal step in enhancing the city's wastewater management infrastructure. This ambitious project is part of a broader investment strategy that includes $2.1 million allocated for clarifiers and $5.3 million for a new bar screen in the upcoming fiscal year.

The presentation highlighted the importance of these upgrades, with city leaders emphasizing that the clarifiers, digesters, and aeration basins are crucial components of the city's water pollution control plan. Visual aids showcased the various projects, with clarifiers depicted in blue, digesters in orange, and aeration basins in purple, making it clear how these elements fit into the overall infrastructure.

Alderman Dunn's anticipated questions about funding were addressed proactively, with officials confirming that neighboring communities will contribute to the costs, as they share ownership of the facility. Additionally, the city is moving forward with Phase 2 of its flood mitigation efforts, which are essential for protecting Davenport from future water-related challenges.

The meeting underscored the city's commitment to improving its environmental infrastructure and securing federal funding for community projects, previously known as earmarks. As Davenport prepares for these significant investments, the focus remains on enhancing public health and safety through improved wastewater management systems.