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Tonawanda approves main pump-station bypass work after discussion of expanded valve replacements
Summary
Council authorized contract work for a bypass at the main pump station. City staff described expanded scope to replace multiple 55-year-old valves after an emergency replacement cost of about $90,000, and said the station will be taken out of service during portions of the work.
The City of Tonawanda Common Council authorized contract work for a main pump-station bypass on April 22 after staff explained the project's expanded scope to address multiple failing valves and related components.
Staff said the station’s valves are approximately 55 years old and that an earlier emergency replacement of a single cut-in valve had cost roughly $90,000. Because other suction, discharge and check valves and the influent valve are similarly aged and at risk of failure, staff described a larger scope that would replace suction and discharge valves on pumps 1–3, replace check valves, and address the station influent valve. The work requires a bypass so crews can take parts of the station out of service safely.
City staff told council the expanded work is more efficient to perform while the station is offline and avoids repeated emergency replacements. Council adopted the related resolution authorizing the project and associated contract (American Contracting and Environmental Services was named in packet materials as the contractor for the bypass construction), with staff noting the contract is funded from bond proceeds previously authorized by the council.
Why it matters: The pump station is core sanitary infrastructure. Staff described the work as preventive and corrective; replacing multiple aged valves now, while the station can be taken offline, reduces the risk of further emergency repair costs and unplanned service interruptions.
Details discussed on the record: - Emergency valve replacement cost: staff said one prior cut-in valve replacement had cost approximately $90,000. - Age of equipment: valves described as roughly 55 years old. - Scope: replacement of multiple suction and discharge valves (pumps 1–3), check valves on pumps 1–3, influent valve, and bypass construction to permit safe removal of components. - Funding: the project was described as bond-funded and the council noted it had previously authorized borrowing for work of this kind; staff said an amended bond resolution to align totals would follow where necessary.
Ending: Council approved the resolution to proceed; staff will bring any required amended bond documentation back to the council to align the authorized borrowing with the final contract amounts.
