Batavia council gets detailed progress report on wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation
Loading...
Summary
City staff reported partial flow through the new headworks and clarifiers, start-up of sludge thickening and imminent odor-control startup; contractor is near substantial completion and will likely seek retainage release in November.
City officials told the Batavia City Council on Oct. 20 that the wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation project is moving toward completion, with partial operations already running through newly built structures and several follow-up adjustments in progress.
The project update was delivered by Jerry Ruth, the project representative responsible for coordinating construction and start-up activities. "We are now flowing wastewater through those structures," Ruth said, describing a phased startup in which both old and new headworks and primary clarifiers are operational while personnel address manufacturer defects and make equipment modifications.
Why it matters: the project replaces core treatment infrastructure that affects the city’s wastewater handling, odor management and long-term maintenance costs. Progress toward full operation reduces environmental risk and supports planned paving, site restoration and public tours expected after the winter construction period.
Key details from the Oct. 20 update - Flow and operations: The city is operating both old and new headworks in parallel; primary clarifiers are in partial use while manufacturer defects are corrected one clarifier at a time. - Sludge handling: Start-up of the thickening process for waste-activated sludge began last week. Ruth said testing and tweaking continued and he expected the work to be finished before the next monthly update. - Odor control: Two odor control systems — one at the headworks and one at the primary clarifier structure — were scheduled to start up the Wednesday following the meeting to reduce odorous compounds from key locations. - Site work and paving: Contractors are completing sewer tie-ins and removing temporary piping before final grading and paving. Project staff are trying to pave before winter but noted seasonal weather constraints. - Cost and schedule: Ruth reported 97% cost progress and approximately $80,000 in total change orders to date (Change Orders 1–5), representing under 0.2% of the contract value. On paper the schedule showed 76% completion, but Ruth said work was ahead and the contractor planned to request substantial completion and release of retainage in his November pay request.
Council response and next steps Mayor Jeffrey D. Scheelke praised the project team and suggested the facility could become a regional model. "This is gonna be the new regional model for the region," the mayor said during remarks following the presentation. Council members discussed public tours; staff said tours would be arranged once the remaining punch-list items are complete and that some restoration work would be deferred until spring.
Ruth closed by summarizing remaining tasks: completing clarifier modifications, finishing punch-list items, completing paving if weather permits, and wrapping up insulation, railings and signage. He indicated that most functional systems would be online within weeks and that final restoration work would occur in the spring.
