The town of Lake Arthur is seeking a $1.2 million state loan for improvement projects related to its wastewater system.

Mayor Poncho Lejeune said Tuesday the town hopes to place the project on the state’s project funding list for funding through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan program operated by the Department of Environmental Quality.

The town hopes to get a loan forgiveness, or receive the funds in the form of a grant, he said.

The funds will help finance much-needed improvements to the town’s wastewater treatment facility.

“We are applying for a loan to install a chlorinator at the sewer plant,” Lejeune said. “Right now the UV lights don’t work well, but once we put the chlorinator in we will be able to stay within the DEQ guidelines.”

The chlorinator helps disinfect the water and removes any harmful pathogens from the water before it is sent back into the environment.

The town also hopes to install an automated headwork screen control  to help catch unwanted trash that is getting into the treatment facility and causing problems, he said. Town employees are constantly having to “rake” to remove the unwanted items, including flushable wipes, which are causing problems with pumps at the sewer plant, he said.

Problems with wet wipes  have become a major issue for the town in recent months, leading to town officials to urge residents to not flush wipes, even if they say they are flushable, and other items down the toilet. The items do not break down like toilet paper does, and can cause clog pipes and damage pumps at the town’s sewer lift stations.

“We prefer that you only flush toilet paper and natural materials,” Lejeune said during a council meeting earlier this year. “That’s what is supposed to go in the sewer, not wet wipes or face wipes. They are not made to go into the sewer system. It’s a huge problem in town, as well as nationwide.”