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Pataskala officials review WRF 15% design, target construction cost kept under $40 million
Summary
City utility staff reported reaching 15% design for the new wastewater reclamation facility, presented a schedule through construction and a current opinion of probable cost of about $34 million (inflated to roughly $39.5 million by 2028).
Pataskala City utility staff said the city has reached 15% design for its new wastewater reclamation facility and is targeting a construction cost below $40 million while planning an August 2026 bid and a September 2029 final completion date.
The 15% package narrows treatment processes, preferred equipment manufacturers and layout options and sets a schedule for the remaining design milestones. Utility staff said the current opinion of probable construction cost is about $34 million today and about $39.5 million when inflated to 2028 prices, and that the city is aiming to keep the total below $40 million.
Utility staff provided the utility committee a design overview and the schedule. They said working-session milestones will arrive at 30% design in September, 60% in December and 90% in March, with the design package completed in April to allow time for EPA review and permit processing. The presentation notes a construction bid date in August 2026, a planned construction start in December 2026 and substantial completion — including punch list work and site restoration — in 2029. "The construction final completion is September of 2029," the staff presenter said, adding the city might see actual completion earlier in 2029 depending on field conditions.
Staff and consultants reviewed scope decisions made so far to reduce cost. Examples listed in the package include retaining clarifier depths at 14 feet rather than 15 feet to save construction cost while staying above state minimums; removing an outdoor bypass channel at the headworks now and leaving a punch-out wall for future expansion to 3 million gallons per day; and treating some lagoon-aeration equipment as bid alternates. The presenter said some alternates (gravity thickener) likely won’t be bid alternates because of their operational value, while lagoon aerators may be offered as alternates to control immediate cost exposure.
Staff warned that material and manufacturer price uncertainty — including tariff-driven increases — remains a risk and that some long-lead equipment (for example, a variable-frequency drive) can be months on back order. The presentation notes the design includes provisions for future expansion to a 3 million gallons-per-day capacity and described building the new headworks, sludge-handling facilities and UV disinfection equipment sized for future growth.
The committee asked about neighborhood impacts such as noise and odors. Staff said major equipment will be housed indoors, limiting noise to minor operational sounds, and that properly operating treatment plants should not produce noticeable odors; they also suggested landscaping and tree buffers during later design phases. Committee members pressed staff to continue refinement at 30% and 60% design so cost estimates become more certain.
Staff said the city has nominated the project for federal construction loan funding and is coordinating with Montrose Group and the EPA on the project-priority list and PTI (permit-to-install) submission schedule. The presenter noted EPA staffing constraints could slow PTI review and factored that into the timeline.
The committee received the update for information; no formal motions or votes were recorded on the item.
