Funding to replace and eliminate the lift station at Center and Front Street in New Ulm may finally be at hand. This session, Minnesota legislators approved a bonding bill that includes $4 million for New Ulm to create a gravity sewer flow system to replace its last lift station. Photo by Clay Schuldt

NEW ULM – This session, Minnesota legislators gave the City of New Ulm a big financial boost to finally replace and eliminate the Center Street Lift Station.

Before the close of the 2026 state legislative session, a Bonding bill was passed that included $4 million for New Ulm to complete its gravity sewer flow system. For the last several years, New Ulm Public Utilities has worked to eliminate all sewer pump and lift stations from the city with a gravity system. Gravity sewers have already been constructed on the north and south side of New Ulm. The last remaining lift station is located at Center and Front Street.

Once this final lift station is replaced the city is expected to have a safer and lower maintenance wastewater system.

New Ulm Utilities Director Brett Fleck said the purpose of the Center Street lift station is to literally lift wastewater. Elevation changes with the sewer pipes near front street prevent wastewater from flowing without pumps lifting the sewage out. The lift station method of moving wastewater requires significant maintenance to maintain and there is possibility of a system failure which could result in wastewater backup and potentially being discharged into the Minnesota River.

A gravity sewer system works by making sure wastewater flows down, eliminating the need for a pump system. However, in order to construct a gravity system the city will need to dig up a three block section of Front Street and place new pipes 30-feet deep in the ground.

For this reason, the project had been cost prohibitive for the city, but with $4 million in bonding funds, New Ulm can finally finish the project.

“This project has been a long time coming,” City Engineer Joe Stadheim said.

New Ulm has been seeking funding to help with this project for multiple years. Last October, the Minnesota House Capital Investment Committee visited the Center Street lift station to see why it needed to be replaced.

Stadheim said the lift station was over 50 years old and was well beyond its life expectancy. The lift station building is currently a hazard for staff to enter. He said the building is falling apart, which is common with lift stations due to the corrosive nature of the wastewater.

Stadheim said there is a tentative plan to begin work on the new gravity sewer in 2027. City staff plans to begin designing and preparing bids for the project. Until the project is bid, the total costs are unknown.

Stadheim said it is believed the project will come in close to $4 million, but the city may need some additional funds for the project.

Once the new gravity sewer is in place, Stadheim said the plan is to demolish the pump house at Center and Front Street. This would include all structures within the fenced in area as well as the adjacent city shed. The site could be returned to green space.

In addition without the need to lift wastewater, noxious smells at Center and Front Street should be greatly reduced.

The gravity sewer is expected to last the city between 75-100 years and require significant less maintenance for the city compare to the lift station.

“This is a win-win for us,” Fleck said. “We’re super excited the legislators came through for us on this project.”