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Service Authority authorizes $13,676.69 change order, outlines Dahlgren plant fixes and Claydale water response
Summary
The King George County Service Authority approved a $13,676.69 change order to adjust piping and valves for a courthouse interconnect after contractors found undersized and degraded pipe; staff reported significant sludge buildup at Dahlgren wastewater plant, a robot deployment to remove accumulated material, and interim-financing and grant-seeking steps.
Service Authority and county staff reported operational problems and authorized immediate fixes to avoid construction delays and regulatory consequences.
Bryce Young presented Change Order No. 1 for the courthouse-to-circle water interconnect after contractors discovered existing 3-inch thin-wall PVC that could not safely tie into the new 8-inch system. "This change order in the amount of $13,676.69 will be allocated from the Service Authority general fund," Young said, recommending the board authorize the Service Authority designee to execute the change order to prevent costly delays.
Board members questioned contractor staffing levels and whether engineering or pre-bid inspections should have identified the unexpected materials. Young said the contractor roles (foreman, project superintendent, operator, skilled laborer) represented distinct responsibilities, and staff negotiated cost trims where possible. After debate and a roll-call vote, the board authorized execution of the change order from the Service Authority operating budget; one supervisor voted no and several voted aye.
Service Authority staff then gave a technical update on the Dahlgren wastewater treatment plant, which is currently out of compliance with nitrogen (TN) limits under a WQIF grant agreement. Staff described a multistep remediation plan: removal and cleaning of IFAS media, deployment of a sludge-removal robot to extract accumulated sludge and rags that have compromised treatment trains, installation of a sludge press, and a Bowman Engineering report due August 1 that will lay out phased repairs and cost estimates. Staff noted the plant’s condition prevents accepting outside septage and that while DEQ encouraged the county to apply for grants, the Authority missed the first grant deadline because technical numbers were not yet available.
Separately, staff reviewed emergency water distribution to residents of the Claydale and Pepper Mill systems (June 19 and June 23) after water-quality complaints; flushing and targeted cleanings have reduced calls. Staff thanked maintenance crews and volunteers for their work and said they will continue progress meetings and consider outside leak detection assistance for ongoing water-loss issues.
Staff also briefed the board on a potential interim financing schedule with a drop-dead date in early August; the funds, if approved, would support phase 1 of Dahlgren repairs. The board directed staff to continue grant and financing preparations and scheduled follow-up briefings when Bowman Engineering delivers its report.
