Norwalk WPCA reviews operations, requests grant extension and receives pump‑station updates

The Water Pollution Control Authority of the City of Norwalk received updates on plant operations, permitting and multiple capital projects at its Oct. 20 meeting, and approved the Sept. 15 meeting minutes unanimously.

At the start of the meeting, Veolia operations staff reported monthly operational metrics for September. "Our collection system team did 1.3 miles of CCTV, 2.8 miles of sewer cleaning, 113 manhole inspections, and 3.1 mile of SLRAT inspection," the Veolia representative reported, and said the crew responded to 12 service calls while the industrial pretreatment program performed 31 inspections. On the treatment‑plant side, staff completed cleaning of the dechlorination tank and installed new wet‑weather chlorine pumps; a final startup with Aaron Associates is scheduled within about two weeks. Veolia also told the authority that nitrogen loading averaged 456 pounds per day in September compared with the 718‑pound‑per‑day target, and that required reports (net DMR, MOR, ATMR, AR) were submitted to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The authority reviewed fiscal reports showing a $110,000 investment‑income/transfer adjustment on the revenue side. Commissioner Frayer asked whether the line was a month‑to‑month figure or a year‑to‑date adjustment; staff said the figure came from the city finance department and reflects anticipated interest income based on the fund balance. Frayer said he would follow up with finance for clarification.

On grant and permitting matters, staff said the authority has requested a one‑year time extension from DEEP for the Clean Water Fund grant agreement CWF744‑PG (the WPCF facilities plan update), moving the grant expiration from Dec. 31, 2025, to Dec. 31, 2026, while the facilities plan remains under DEEP review. Staff also reported that the renewal application for the Norwalk Water Pollution Control Facility permit was submitted Oct. 1, ahead of the March 31, 2026 expiration (the application was filed 180 days before expiration).

Staff briefed members on several engineering and construction projects. Arcadis is continuing design work on the final settling tank and is expected to submit a 30% basis‑of‑design report this month. The city is leading a sanitary sewer separation and drainage project for which the WPCA is a partner; staff said legal work is finalizing an easement with First District Water and the Department of Public Works is pursuing a federal grant to fund most of that work.

Project construction updates included: the 4 Pointe pump station is on temporary bypass while electrical work and pump removals proceed; Keeler Brook pump station replacement remains on temporary bypass, with daily maintenance by Veolia staff, a FEMA claim filed for Aug. 24 storm damage and an application under preparation for possible Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding; Beacon Street sanitary sewer replacement (contractor CJ Fuji) is advancing with shop‑drawing review and 16 test pits completed to verify utilities; and Belle Island rehabilitation shows CIPP lining at about 98% complete, manhole rehabilitation at 73% and grab‑out of sewer ladders at 81%, with lining expected to be finished by the end of next week.

The authority reported sewer‑use appeals and adjustments totaling $5,903 to date.

On a separate matter staff said they remain under agreement to purchase a parcel of land but closing is delayed after an environmental analysis required a consultant correction; staff said the consultant must finalize the report before closing can proceed.

The authority approved the Sept. 15, 2025 meeting minutes on a motion moved by Commissioner Frayer; the vote was recorded as unanimous (Austafine, Frayer, Don, Bovee, Manella voting “aye”). The meeting had no public commenters and adjourned following the report and updates.

Less critical items discussed included routine submittals of bimonthly and quarterly sludge reports and ongoing shop‑drawing reviews; staff said they would follow up with finance on the investment‑income adjustment and with DEEP on the grant‑extension outcome.