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Regional Sewer District previews 2026 budget, major projects and water‑reuse study
Summary
Delaware County’s Regional Sewer District told commissioners it expects slightly lower 2025 capacity fee receipts and outlined a 2026 budget with roughly $11.2M in projected capacity fees, a $1 user‑fee increase and capital projects including Central Island Creek discharge studies, East Elm Creek pump station design and a Harlem Township trunk sewer alignment study.
Tiffany Mag, director of environmental services for the Regional Sewer District, briefed commissioners on Nov. 19 on 2025 results and the proposed 2026 budget and capital program, highlighting project timelines and environmental review steps that will determine costs and discharge approaches.
Financial overview: Mag said capacity fee receipts in 2025 came in below budget (the district budgeted $12 million and forecasted roughly $11.1 million in receipts). User fees are forecasted ahead of budget by about $276,000; inspection and plan review fees trailed expectations. For 2026, staff presented an $11.2 million capacity‑fee forecast and forecasted 1,382 new connections. Mag told commissioners a $1 increase to the monthly user fee — from $40 to $41 — is scheduled to take effect in January 2026.
Capital projects and permitting: Staff described three major near‑term projects. For Central Island Creek, the Army Corps approved a conceptual alternative with two discharge location options; staff must complete a Geosyntec water‑quality model and a year‑long Corps environmental assessment (archaeological, geotechnical and tree‑impact analyses) before choosing surface vs. submerged discharge and a final route. For East Elm Creek, staff budgeted $400,000 for 2026 design and reported a roughly $3.5 million total project cost estimate to expand the pump station to relieve a near‑term bottleneck. For Harlem Township, presenters outlined a preliminary alignment to tie into Columbus’ tunnel at Smothers Road; staff said reaching the first developable parcel would be a roughly $20 million effort and will require financial modeling with trustees and developers to determine repayment mechanisms.
Operations and systems work: Presenters reported equipment and process improvements at multiple plants — redundant centrifuges, new cloth media filters and variable frequency‑drive blowers — that reduce energy use and minimize rental costs for dewatering. The OECC retrofit was described as about 95% complete; a $5 million grant helped reduce costs and finishing work will continue into spring.
Biosolids and reuse studies: Staff launched a biosolids master plan to evaluate hauling, dewatering and disposal costs (presenters estimated current disposal in the range of $600,000–$800,000 annually). The sewer district also hosted a pilot reuse study by Hazen & Sawyer at Allen Creek; staff said pilot results and plant upgrades could support industrial or irrigation reuse and reported the plant can reliably supply several million gallons per day of reuse water (presenters cited about 3 MGD comfortably, up to 6 MGD with upgrades), while noting constraints from blow‑down/brine returns and regulatory limits.
What’s next: Presenters asked commissioners to consider the 2026 budget package and responded to questions about tap fee policy and development contributions. No formal county appropriation vote was taken at the Nov. 19 meeting; staff will return with final numbers and grant outcomes as projects advance.
