MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa – JBS Marshalltown held an open house commemorating its new activated sludge plant July 22, according to the Times-Republican.

"The new sludge plant was built over a period of a year to upgrade the company's existing pretreatment works and to enhance wastewater quality prior to its discharge to Marshalltown's wastewater pollution control plant," said Isaac Yoder, JBS environmental manager.

JBS Marshalltown is Marshalltown's largest employer with a payroll of nearly $97 million. It operates a distribution center and warehouse in addition to processing more than 5 million pigs annually.
Troy Mulgrew, Marshalltown plant manager, said this project was six years in the making. A number of other steps had been completed over that time to improve the quality of discharge into Marshalltown's water system. He also said new activated sludge plant will be an asset should the local plant expand.

During the open house event, JBS facility operators conducted microscopic exams along with tests for pH, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids, temperature, clarity and more. Joining JBS in welcoming guests and answering questions were representatives of Reid Engineering, the plant's design firm, Story Construction, general contractor, and ELM, sludge land application contractor.