DBS Manufacturing Helps Modernize Major Wastewater Treatment Plant with Retrofit Clarifier Drives

By Frances Archer

 

DBS Manufacturing, represented by Peterson and Matz, Inc., was selected by the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) to supply retrofit clarifier drive units for a major upgrade project. The sole-source selection reflects a decades-long relationship built on product reliability, responsive customer support, design excellence, and competitive pricing.

 

For the project, DBS is manufacturing eight drive units for MWRD’s O’Brien Water Reclamation Plant in Skokie, IL, with the drives being installed two at a time. MWRD is implementing a $300M-plus expansion project at the O’Brien Plant to modernize treatment processes and increase the plant’s efficiency and resilience.

 

In April 2026, DBS Manufacturing Founder and Director Nils Young, DBS President Mimi Malizia Young, and Peterson and Matz Sales Representative Chad Askeland visited the O’Brien Plant during the start-up phase of the installation of the first two drives. DBS’s D42-BF low-maintenance retrofit drives replaced the old Envirex (Evoqua) units in two primary clarification tanks. 

 

The DBS D42-BF center pier-mounted clarifier drive units will boost capacity at the O’Brien Plant, reduce maintenance, and provide accurate torque monitoring. These drives are designed for large tanks with a center column and rake cage and feature a large integral internal gear and precision ball-bearings. They fit into the existing structure, requiring minimal, if any, modifications to surrounding components such as the bridge and rake cage.

 

While MWRD’s general contractor is performing the installation, DBS is providing one day of service per unit on-site. During the O’Brien Plant site visit, Nils and Chad ran tests to confirm the torque switches were properly set and they conducted operator training on the basic maintenance required. The operators were highly impressed with the low-maintenance features of the forged alloy steel DBS drives, specifically as compared to the maintenance required of the old cast-iron drives.

 

For more than 50 years, DBS Manufacturing has designed and manufactured low-speed, high-torque equipment and customized drive units backed by a comprehensive warranty and unmatched customer service. If your municipality is considering modernizing wastewater treatment equipment, contact our regional sales representative to learn how we can design and manufacture an efficient, cost-effective retrofit solution — often faster than rebuilding existing units. Visit the DBS Manufacturing website to view our full product line of drive units, mixers, aerators, and industrial distributors for municipal and industrial processes.