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Board approves capital funding to replace aging UV system at wastewater plant
Summary
Directors authorized use of capital funds to engineer and replace the wastewater plant’s ultraviolet disinfection system after staff described repeated failures, fire risk and mounting maintenance costs; staff estimated design and construction costs around $1.3 million.
PUEBLO WEST — The Board of Directors approved a resolution April 14 to use capital funds to design and replace the wastewater treatment plant’s aging ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system after staff described safety and compliance risks.
Deputy Director of Utilities Operations Robert Bannum told the board the district’s existing UV system, installed about 2001, has suffered repeated mechanical failures and has caught fire on multiple occasions. Bannum said the system currently operates in a bypass mode that forces the bulbs to run at full intensity more often than designed, shortening component life and increasing contractor repair expenses.
Bannum recommended separating the UV replacement from the larger wastewater plant expansion to allow a faster timeline and to design the new system for current needs plus future capacity. He told the board staff anticipates roughly $150,000 for engineering and design, and up to about $1.2 million for construction—for a total near $1.3 million. Bannum said the design will aim to accommodate the plant’s permitted future capacity (up to 3.6 MGD) while supporting current flows.
Board discussion focused on safety, operational continuity and whether the new design should allow a parallel channel so work can be done without taking the plant offline. Bannum said the new banks in the proposed design would be removable and that system configuration and redundancy could be considered again in the master‑plan expansion.
A motion to authorize the use of capital funds for the UV system upgrade carried on a voice vote. Staff said the next steps are detailed engineering, issuing an IFB, returning to the board for contract award after bids and a budget amendment in July or August to reflect final project cost.
Why it matters: Staff described a clear operational and safety risk tied to the current UV system’s age and failure history; replacing the system now aims to prevent compliance violations, reduce maintenance downtime and prevent possible staff injury or building damage.
