Claremore unveils wastewater master plan, estimates $46.6 million in phased upgrades

Claremore City Council heard a presentation on the city’s wastewater master plan Tuesday night, with Garver engineers outlining a prioritized capital improvement plan that would phase near-term repairs and replacements and larger long-term plant expansion needs. The consultant said the recommended projects total about $46,600,000 in today’s dollars and include options to reduce long-term maintenance by shifting to a regional conveyance system.

The master plan presentation was led by Tom Sullivan, project manager with Garver, and introduced by Garrett (city staff). Sullivan said the study — started in fiscal 2022 — combined data collection, hydraulic modeling and site visits to generate two alternatives for the collection system and a phased plan for upgrades at the wastewater treatment plant. “The total cost of the recommended improvements … are approximately $46,600,000 in today’s money,” Sullivan said.

Why it matters: Claremore’s sewer system contains aging pipes and several lift stations that are nearing capacity or need major upgrades. The plan aims to balance near-term repair needs (replacement pumps, blowers, screenings) with longer-term capacity expansions that would be triggered by growth. Council members and staff raised concerns about inflow and infiltration (I&I), the capacity of existing lift stations serving recent developments and the effect of regional customers on the system.

Key recommendations and findings - Two collection-system alternatives. Option 1 spreads line replacements across older sections of town; Option 2 centers improvements on a new eastern interceptor and would allow gravity flow to a single regional lift station, eliminating multiple smaller lift stations and recurring maintenance costs. Consultants said Option 2 has higher upfront cost but reduces long-term life‑cycle maintenance and removes several lift stations that are at or near capacity. - Treatment plant priorities. Near-term needs include a new influent lift station and a robust screening facility to protect pumps and blowers. Intermediate items include expanded disinfection capacity and maintenance improvements. Long-term items are driven by growth and could include additional aeration basins, blowers and clarifiers. - Phasing and costs. The report splits projects into near-, intermediate- and long-term phases and provides planning-level cost estimates; Sullivan recommended targeted engineering studies to move estimates from planning to preliminary design. - Funding pathways. Consultants recommended pursuing Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) programs and other state/federal grants, noting the possibility of principal forgiveness on some funding packages.

Discussion and local context City staff and councilors discussed how recent developments have affected capacity. Council and staff said a sewer line upsized years ago through a partnership with the Cherokee Nation to serve a racino and nearby commercial customers now feeds a lift station that quickly reached capacity when those customers connected. That, staff said, prevents the city from serving additional development along the same trunk without station upgrades.

Council members and staff also emphasized the operations cost consequences of I&I: clean stormwater that infiltrates the sanitary system consumes energy, chemicals and equipment life. Staff noted that recently started replacement work on an aging clay-tile run revealed multiple bellies and significant infiltration.

Next steps Garver recommended several follow-up items: a preliminary engineering report for the eastern interceptor (including easement needs and alignments), updated rainfall and sanitary sewer evaluation surveys to better define project limits, conceptual design for influent screenings and pump station work, and a coordinated funding strategy focused on CWSRF and similar programs.

Proponents and presenters framed the plan as a roadmap: it identifies critical safety and capacity work now while pointing to larger, growth-driven investments that could be timed with development and grant opportunities.

Ending Council received the report and directed staff to pursue the recommended follow-up studies and funding conversations; no formal appropriation or construction authorization was adopted during the meeting.