Council advances multiple wastewater and sewer design projects; one reclaimed-water contract adopted

The Shelton City Council on April 15 moved forward with multiple sewer and wastewater infrastructure projects. The council voted to place two design resolutions on the May 6 action agenda and adopted a contract amendment for a reclaimed-water tank project at the municipal MBR facility.

Public Works Director Brent Armstrong described a legislative grant of $3.2 million to design and construct a new headworks facility at the MBR (membrane bioreactor) plant, intended to expand the plant’s ability to accept higher flows. Armstrong said the design contract under consideration is for $408,000 and that the total project is currently estimated at roughly $4 million. Resolution 1375-0325, authorizing an on-call work order with Parametrix to begin headworks design, was placed on the May 6 action agenda for formal consideration.

Armstrong also presented a design agreement with Parametrix to remove a sewer bypass pipe within Goldsboro Creek and to cap and remove associated inlet/outlet pipes and rock armoring. He said permitting will involve multiple partners — including state Fish and Wildlife, the Army Corps and a salmon enhancement group — and that the project team is targeting next year’s aquatic “fish window” for construction. Resolution 1377-0325 to begin design and permitting was placed on the May 6 action agenda.

Separately, the council adopted resolution 1374-0325 authorizing the city manager to execute contract amendment No. 5 with Gray & Osborne, Inc. for design and construction assistance on a 500,000-gallon reclaimed-water tank at the MBR plant. Armstrong said the design was far enough along that it was under review by the Washington State Department of Ecology and the city anticipates going to bid once Ecology signs off.

Council members asked questions about project phasing, how the MBR upgrades would relieve flows at the main plant during heavy rain, and about basin work and smoke testing to address infiltration-and-inflow issues in specific basins. Armstrong said basins 5 and 6 (covering Mount View and Angleside areas) remain to be addressed and that the city will attempt to remove roof-drain and cross-connection inflow before larger basin projects.

Resolutions 1375-0325 and 1377-0325 were placed on the May 6 action agenda for further council consideration; resolution 1374-0325 was adopted by vote during the April 15 meeting. Specific contract amounts mentioned in the council discussion include a $408,000 design contract for the headworks project and the broader $3.2 million legislative appropriation for headworks design and construction.