Skowhegan Select Board approves purchase of sodium hypochlorite for wastewater disinfection

The Skowhegan Select Board voted 5-0 Sept. 9 to approve up to $27,180 to purchase sodium hypochlorite from Harkas Chemicals for the town's wastewater disinfection process.

The purchase covers an anticipated 9,000 gallons at about $3.02 per gallon and will be charged to the pollution control supplies chemical account, the board was told.

Town operations staff described sodium hypochlorite as the commonly used form of bleach and part of the plant's chlorination and dechlorination process. "It's the final state before it gets a little river so you can drink the water," a staff member explained while describing the plant's contact tank testing for E. coli and chlorine limits. The supplier named in the purchase recommendation was the town's current vendor for other treatment chemicals, and staff said the price matches last year's rate.

Select board members asked about vendor responsiveness and delivery logistics. Staff said the vendor delivers directly and that the plant has 2,000-gallon tanks to store the chemical.

The board approved the expenditure after a brief discussion and a motion to accept the written recommendation, with the clerk recording the motion as carrying 5-0.

The town manager said future procurement rounds could seek additional bids, but recommended continuing with the incumbent vendor for this purchase because of local proximity and consistent pricing.

The board did not schedule additional conditions; the purchase will proceed under the stated account and limits.