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McAlester council approves engineering work and accepts $5 million EPA DWSRF grant for water-line and treatment fixes
Summary
Council approved a $17,000 engineering work order to relocate a water-treatment clear-well overflow, authorized pump-related contract changes at no cost, and accepted a $5 million DWSRF/EPA grant to replace a primary transmission main.
The McAlester City Council authorized engineering design work and accepted federal funding to address water-system maintenance and reliability.
Council action included approving a $17,000 work order for engineering services to relocate a clear-well overflow at the water treatment plant and authorizing a no-cost change order for the high-service pump project to address corroded piping. Separately, the council voted to accept an Environmental Protection Agency/DWSRF grant of $5,000,000 for a primary transmission main replacement project.
Why it matters: The engineering and grant acceptance are intended to reduce regulatory risk and improve system reliability. City staff said the clear-well overflow occasionally introduced chlorinated water into backwash ponds that are sampled for discharge limits; the relocation aims to stop chlorinated water from entering the ponds.
Work-order details - Engineering work order: The council authorized a $17,000 work order with Infrastructure Solutions Group LLC to design relocation of a clear-well overflow, obtain Oklahoma DEQ permitting, and prepare for construction. Staff estimated the full project cost at about $150,000, with construction to follow design and permitting.
- High-service pump change order: The council approved a no-cost change order with Utility Maintenance Contractors LLC to clean and paint a 30-inch concrete header pipe feeding the pumps, using project contingency funds.
EPA DWSRF grant and transmission main - Grant acceptance: The council accepted a $5,000,000 Community Grant from the EPA (DWSRF) to replace a 16-inch transmission main that runs from Electric Avenue across town to the Seminole water tower. Staff estimated the line length at roughly 12,000 feet (about 2.3 miles) and the total project cost near $5.5 million; engineering plans are completed and permitting and bidding will follow.
Schedule and next steps Staff said construction for the transmission main will likely take most of a year once bidding and permitting are complete. For the pump project, staff estimated the contractor will switch pumps and complete the remaining work within a few months, and that upgrades will yield operational and energy savings.
Quotations and compliance Public works staff explained the regulatory reason for the clear-well relocation: “That water that leaves those ponds has a limit for no residual chlorine detected in it.” The relocation is intended to eliminate that source of chlorinated discharge and help the city meet permit limits.
Ending City staff will proceed with design, permitting and preparation for construction. Council members asked staff to keep the council updated on timelines and bids before final construction contracts return to the council for award.
