Wastewater facilities are inherently expensive to build and maintain because of the corrosive characteristics of a sanitary waste stream. Equipment involved in wastewater treatment must be constructed of corrosion-resistant materials. The cost of this specialized equipment is relatively high compared to most standard industrial equipment. A large portion of the day-to-day maintenance at this facility involves applying corrosion-resistant coatings to equipment and structures to slow the deterioration rate. It has been estimated that the average useful life cycle of a wastewater treatment plant is only 25 years due to the affects of the corrosive environment. The Council Buffs plant is over 47 years old and in excellent condition thanks to the efforts of the plant maintenance staff. More importantly, it is in excellent condition due to the ongoing support and desire of the community and City Council to keep this critical utility in good working condition and in compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations.