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Wastewater plant staff report pump trial, aeration-basin work and budget planning
Summary
Town wastewater operator reported a vendor trial for return activated sludge pumps, planning to select a pump after employee trials and complete purchases in FY25; staff also preparing budget numbers for aeration-basin cleaning and diffuser replacement.
Chesapeake Beach wastewater staff told the town council they are testing replacement pumps and preparing budget estimates for headworks and aeration-basin work planned for the next fiscal year.
Josh Stinnett, who runs the town’s wastewater treatment plant, said crews are conducting a trial of two return activated sludge pumps from separate vendors to evaluate efficiency, maintenance needs and staff preferences. The trial is scheduled to conclude in February; Stinnett said the plant will compile performance data and then consult plant staff before selecting a vendor.
The pump replacement project was budgeted for fiscal year 2025, Stinnett told the council, and he expected the procurement and installations for the plant’s three pumps to be completed within the fiscal year. He said the current project projection is coming in under budget by roughly $5,000 to $6,000 depending on the pump selected.
Stinnett also said the plant needs work on its aeration basins and diffusers; the last major related work occurred during an earlier upgrade (he cited 2014 or 2016), and staff are assembling budget numbers for cleaning and replacing diffusers in the coming year.
Stinnett noted the plant serves multiple entities in the area — including North Beach, Calvert County and the nearby school at Windy Hill — and said the council tour of the plant would help members understand operations. Councilmembers asked for a tour and for a link to a short video Stinnett said he had posted to the town website to introduce equipment and procedures in advance of the site visit.
Stinnett said the plant will evaluate lifecycle costs, maintenance intensity and operator feedback when choosing a pump and then replace the remaining pumps after the final selection. He described the selection as staff-driven, with operators who work on the equipment having input on the final purchase decision.
No formal procurement action was taken at the meeting; staff said they will return with budget numbers and a recommendation after the trial ends.
