Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wastewater topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves replacement of corroded grit washer at wastewater plant; questions over specs and warranty
Summary
The City of Imperial adopted Resolution 2025-O6, approving a proprietary replacement grit washer tank after corrosion of the original 2021 installation. Council members pressed staff on inspection, warranty and plans to replace an omitted headworks component in a broader future project.
The City of Imperial Council adopted Resolution 2025‑O6, authorizing replacement of a corroded grit washer tank at the municipal wastewater treatment plant. Council approved the measure 4-0.
Public works staff and the plant operator told the council the unit installed during the 2021 wastewater project used 304 stainless steel and showed corrosion within months. City engineering staff proposed replacing it with a proprietary unit made from a stronger stainless material (described in the meeting as 316 stainless) that the vendor reports will withstand the strength of the incoming raw sewer. Staff said the replacement protects the city’s $1,500,000 membrane system installed in 2021.
“This unit basically protects the $1,500,000 membrane system that we have at the wastewater treatment plant that was installed as part of the 2021 project,” a staff presenter said. Council members pressed for details: one asked why earlier inspections or warranty remedies did not prevent the failure and noted signs of corrosion within nine months of installation. Staff said the original warranty should have been at least one year and that they would review warranty records and contract responsibilities.
Council discussion also noted that the headworks portion was omitted from the 2021 project and that the city is beginning preliminary engineering for a complete new headworks system, which staff described as a future multimillion‑dollar project. Council members cautioned that small component failures can cascade into far larger costs if not addressed.
Action: Motion to adopt Resolution 2025‑O6 to replace the grit washer tank passed 4-0. Staff said the replacement is a proprietary unit from a single manufacturer and recommended purchase to prevent damage to critical membrane equipment.
Ending: Staff said they will follow up on warranty records and continue preliminary engineering for a full headworks replacement; the replacement was authorized so operators would have the grit removal capability while long-term design work proceeds.
