Astoria awards $2.55 million contract to resand slow sand filters, project to span two years

The Astoria City Council on Monday approved construction work to resand the city's slow sand water filters, awarding a $2,548,900 contract to Big River Construction.

City Manager Spence told the council the plant uses four slow sand filters to maintain drinking-water quality and that the last resanding work occurred in the 2018–2020 period at a cost of about $1.5 million. "This project will change out each filter one at a time to maintain adequate potable water supply," he said.

Staff said construction is expected to begin in November 2025 and could take up to two years to complete because the city will resand one filter at a time to avoid interrupting water service. The city has built reserves of roughly $2 million for this work, but staff warned the project bid exceeded expectations and additional transfers from public-works improvement funds could be used depending on the timing of other projects.

Nathan Crater, the city engineer, told councilors the project covers all four filters; three are nearly identical in size, and the fourth is larger. Councilors asked for clarity about funding and timing. Jeff Harrington, public works director, and the city manager said staff, the public works director and the finance director will continue to monitor the improvement fund balance and advise council if additional changes are needed.

Councilor Davis pressed staff on the Public Works Improvement Fund balance and whether the resanding bid would create operational strain; Spence said staff are watching the fund and that the resanding is a high-priority drinking-water project.

Councilor Lomp moved to award the contract to Big River Construction; Councilor Davis seconded. The motion carried.

Staff will begin project mobilization later this year and return with periodic project updates and any budget changes that may be required as bids and other public-works priorities are reconciled.