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Town to buy backup sludge pump for wastewater plant; purchase already budgeted
Summary
Wastewater superintendent told the council the plant’s sludge pump gearbox failed and repairs are expected; a budgeted replacement pump priced at $56,050 is available and the council authorized purchase by resolution.
The La Plata Town Council authorized purchase of a backup sludge pump for the town wastewater treatment plant during its May 13 meeting after the wastewater superintendent described recent mechanical failures and an urgent operational need.
Kirk Parks, the town’s wastewater treatment superintendent, told the council that sludge pumping is essential to plant operations and that a gearbox failure has reduced redundancy in the system. “Treatment and disposal of sludge is a vital part of the operations of all wastewater plants,” Parks said. He explained repairs are expected to arrive Thursday but recommended a fully functional spare pump be purchased to avoid future disruptions.
The pump was budgeted in FY2025 at $75,000; the quoted purchase price is $56,050 including parts, Parks said. The council moved to authorize the purchase under a resolution enabling the town manager to enter a purchase agreement; the motion passed by roll call with all present voting aye.
Parks said the spare pump will reduce the risk of an operational outage while repairs are performed and provide immediate contingency if further failures occur. The purchase will be funded from the wastewater plant budget item where the equipment had been previously reserved.
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What’s next: Staff will execute the purchase agreement and update the council on installation timing; Parks invited council members to tour the wastewater plant to see operations firsthand.
