Committee approves funding and time extensions to decommission Entrenchment Creek Water Reclamation Center

The City Utilities Committee approved legislation to add funding and extend the timeline for decommissioning the Entrenchment Creek Water Reclamation Center (WRC), voting in favor of both an initial budget transfer and a subsequent substitute that extended the contractor’s period for final completion and added funds for unforeseen repairs.

Deputy Commissioner Quentin Fletcher said Entrenchment Creek, built in 1910, is one of the city’s oldest water reclamation centers. The decommissioning work will provide an effluent pump station to route flows to South River WRC and will add two primary clarifiers at South River to handle the transferred flows. The committee approved a transfer of $2,029,694.44 from Watershed reserves to the Entrenchment Creek WRC decommissioning project and later approved a substitute ordinance that authorizes a fourth change order adding up to $3,754,184.00 and extends the contract by 352 days (new expiration Sept. 19, 2025) to complete unforeseen repairs.

Fletcher — who said his office oversees treatment, operation and maintenance of the city’s water and wastewater treatment facilities — described the measures as necessary to complete the decommissioning and ensure South River can receive additional flows once Entrenchment Creek is taken offline.

The committee voted in favor of the funding transfer and later approved the substitute ordinance; both items were recorded as favorable by voice vote (initial transfer item recorded 5 yays, 0 nays; substitute recorded 5 yays, 0 nays).

Council members and staff thanked Public Works and DWM staff for ongoing operational work noted in the meeting. The approved substitute specifically authorized the mayor’s designate to execute the fourth change order to the Entrenchment Creek WRC decommissioning agreement with PC Lewis (a joint venture) to allow additional time and funds for final completion.