Alpine workshop: clarifier work stalled, drying beds operating; asset-management plan urges pipe inspections and rate study

City of Alpine councilors and staff met at a wastewater workshop on Oct. 7 for updates on treatment-plant repairs, sludge handling and an asset-management plan that could reshape near-term budgeting. Consultant Andy, presenting remotely, said most clarifier mechanical equipment has arrived but remaining fasteners and the final installation await the manufacturer, Dow Tech, and that work is expected to resume in early November if the vendor meets its schedule.

The clarifier work is the final piece of the current treatment-plant contract, Andy said. "That's the only part remaining," he told the council, noting concrete repairs and coatings are complete and the contractor has removed the old mechanical and electrical equipment.

Why it matters: the city’s asset-management report put long-term replacement needs for the wastewater system at roughly $8–9 million, driven largely by sewer pipes and manholes that have passed their expected 50-year life. The consultant recommended a condition assessment of pipes and manholes and targeted rehabilitation (CIPP lining, slip-lining, epoxy/manhole repairs) that could cut the replacement estimate by roughly $6 million, to about $2.2–2.3 million, depending on rehabilitation findings. The plan also recommends an updated rate study after the condition assessment so the city can align revenue with long-term capital needs.

Sludge drying beds and belt press

Contract work on six active sludge drying beds (identified in the project as numbers 4–9) is complete, Andy said, and staff reported the new media is drying more quickly. Operations staff described a largely manual removal process: workers shovel dried solids into roll-offs for disposal under the city’s existing contract with a landfill hauler. Mike and Richard, operations staff, said the belt filter press the city installed years ago remains usable but is labor intensive and requires constant operator attention and polymer use; staff suggested the city consider selling the press and using proceeds toward other options.

Staffing and operations

Council members and staff flagged short staffing in the wastewater crew. Council member Rookas and other attendees said the plant often relies on a single licensed wastewater operator, Richard Wiley, and recommended hiring a dedicated wastewater position rather than relying solely on cross-training water staff. Andy and staff said a few employees are being cross-trained and that the city is encouraging additional water staff to obtain wastewater certifications, but several council members called for the city to consider recruiting or budgeting for at least one full-time hire to support routine operations and backups.

Funding and contracts

Victoria, a city staff member working on finance, said federal ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds have been released and that the city received slightly more than $1.4 million; she said she was reviewing project accounting and would provide final figures to staff that evening. Andy noted the project had a change order executed in June (change order No. 1) that reallocated $8,400 from sludge-drying-bed concrete repairs to electrical work for clarifier protections; he said that change order produced no net change to the overall contract price.

Asset-management recommendations

The consultant summarized the asset-management work performed under the TCEQ RG-530 spreadsheet approach and said the team had submitted reports — including an emergency response plan, operations and maintenance manual, and a compliance manual — to both the city and the Texas Water Development Board. The asset-management spreadsheet uses asset age and typical useful life to estimate remaining life and a per-year reserve requirement. Andy recommended: - conducting a pipe and manhole condition assessment (camera inspection) in 2026; - continuing to apply annually to the Texas Water Development Board (PIF/low-interest loan programs) for funding; - completing a rate study after the condition assessment to set sustainable sewer rates; and - maintaining and updating the asset-management spreadsheet and producing annual council presentations on progress.

On rehabilitation methods, Andy described cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining as a common approach that can provide a long service life (up to about 50 years for a good installation), while noting outcomes depend on existing pipe condition. He said contractors can provide video, photo documentation and GIS links to the inspection results to help the city prioritize repairs.

Next steps and council requests

Council members asked staff to return with specific budget and staffing proposals. Several council members asked the city to consider putting the belt press up for auction and to use proceeds for rehabilitation or staffing. Andy and staff said they would continue annual grant and loan applications to the Texas Water Development Board and coordinate the proposed 9-month follow-up assessment after staff training and implementation of initial recommendations.

Council members closed the workshop by asking staff to document manpower needs in a future agenda item and to provide final ARPA accounting and any outstanding contractor pay applications; no formal vote was taken at the workshop.