Wastewater treatment plant rehab more than 50% complete, city reports $34M spent to date

City project manager Jerry Ruth updated the Batavia City Council on Feb. 17 on the wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation, reporting progress across multiple project components and financials for the work.

Ruth said work in the headworks building is underway with electrical and ductwork installation, the precast roof and roofing membrane in place and that primary-clarifier concrete work continues despite cold temperatures. The city has started rehabilitation of one of three final clarifiers and is installing piping and equipment for waste-activated sludge thickening.

Ruth described odor-control installations, clarified progress on four primary clarifiers and showed recent aerial photos. He reported that just under $34,000,000 has been spent to date against a $42,600,000 project total. Construction account activity showed about $32,000,000 in construction costs. He said contract completion percent by time was about 51% while cost progress measured 76% due to the project phasing.

Ruth noted that one change order remains pending with the contractor and that he expects remaining milestones to be completed ahead of schedule. He described installed odor-control equipment that treats clarifier air with a hydroxyl-based scrubbing process and cited safety improvements such as new handrails around launder areas.

Council members asked about temporary generator use and whether generators remained on site; staff responded that a large truck-mounted generator the city tried to procure was not obtained but that other generators were deployed and noise issues anticipated during earlier repairs did not materialize.

Ruth concluded the February update and said he would report further changes or pending change orders at the next meeting.