One of the major resources a city has is its wastewater and sewer system.

But when those aren't working properly, there's a problem.

"Our existing wastewater treatment plant was designed properly, and engineered properly, but it wasn't constructed properly. There's not enough steel in the walls...so some of the walls are bowing," says Steve Wingate, Monticello City Manager.

Instead of repairing the plant, the city is looking to completely rebuild it. A project that would cost $5.5 million.

Through the 2009 Water Resources Development Act, the city is hoping to receive one million dollars.

"It would definitely be a big help because a lot of it we were asking for, the money through rural development, part of that will be a grant, part of it a loan. So if we can get that it would help us a lot with our loan portion," adds Wingate.

"One of our biggest factors is we know the plant is unsafe, but the small towns here we just don't have the money to rebuild another one," says Jim Milicic, Monticello Utility Superintendent.

And if nothing is done to the plant?

"Well, I don't even want to think about it. Catastrophic wall failure, the treated sewage would be out on the ground. We hope that would never happen but there's always a possibility," says Milicic.

The city's sewer system is currently going through a 4.1 million dollar major overhaul, paid for by stimulus funding.

The wastewater treatment plant would take about 24 months to complete, and the city is hoping to have the sewer system done by April of 2010.