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Town staff outlines wastewater‑treatment equipment failures, repairs and sequencing for upgrades
Summary
Public Works and engineering consultants briefed council on a list of needed repairs, equipment replacements and staged actions at the Taos wastewater treatment plant to address aging equipment and prepare for tighter nutrient limits.
Public Works Director Rey Vasquez and consultants reported on Aug. 25 that the Taos wastewater treatment plant is operating with several aging components and that staff have sequenced immediate repairs while developing longer‑term treatment and discharge options to meet anticipated nitrogen and phosphorus limits.
What staff said: The plant has had repeated equipment failures and several critical items are at or beyond useful life, staff told the council. Consultants (SMA and a consultant referenced as Robert George assisting with New Mexico Environment Department communications) have helped produce an engineering list of priority repairs and alternatives for future nutrient limits and effluent discharge locations.
Recent repairs and needs: Staff described a range of recent actions and outstanding needs, including: grit chamber pump overhauls; replacement pumps ordered for several processes; repair of blower units and commissioning of a new air compressor; replacement and redundancy planning for return pumps in the membrane bioreactor; ordering sludge‑pump parts and evaluating procurement of a second belt filter press to allow desludging and redundancy; electrical circuit work and emergency aeration improvements for mixers and aerators; and repairs to a crane and belt filter press parts previously damaged or delayed. Staff reported that new laboratory equipment and a centrifuge were purchased to speed solids testing and in‑house ammonia testing capability, reducing reliance on contract labs. A list of priority projects (headworks fine screen, septic receiving upgrades, west basin aeration work, redundant belt press, and other items) is being used to schedule sequential work and solicit bids, with some items identified as priority projects tied to community block grant funding and other sources.
Operational context and performance: Director Vasquez and staff said that, since mid‑April, the plant has not recorded ammonia or total nitrogen permit violations and that extended monitoring and a more comprehensive in‑house testing regimen are helping staff make treatment decisions more quickly. Staff also noted the plant had been run in ‘‘supervisory mode’’ for some systems while repairs continue and that they will continue to provide updates as equipment replacements are executed.
Why it matters: The plant is a critical municipal facility that discharges treated effluent; aging equipment creates both operational risk and regulatory exposure if failures occur. Staff emphasized the need for staged repairs to restore redundancy (so a single failure will not lead to permit exceedances) and to prepare for possible future tightening of nutrient limits that would require additional treatment steps.
Next steps: Staff will solicit bids for prioritized repairs and continue to coordinate with NMED and consultants on both immediate repairs and longer‑term engineering work. Council asked to be kept apprised of costs and timelines as the procurement and construction work proceeds.
Ending: Public Works presented a prioritized, multi‑stage plan that staff said balances immediate repairs and longer‑term planning for treatment upgrades; staff will return with bid results, a refined schedule and funding options.
