Elizabethtown officials review wastewater plant repairs and a proposed 6 million‑gallon expansion
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Summary
Wastewater Director Corey Bond told the council the plant treated about 2.9 billion gallons last year, reported a berm breach during April storms and said a facility plan to expand capacity from 13 to about 19 million gallons per day is under state review; estimated costs were discussed.
Corey Bond, Elizabethtown’s wastewater director, told the City Council on Jan. 12 that the plant treated about 2,900,000,000 gallons of wastewater in 2025 and operates at an average of roughly 8,000,000 gallons per day. He said the plant’s current rated capacity is 13,000,000 gallons per day and that the city is evaluating a phased expansion to about 19,000,000 gallons per day.
Bond reported the plant reached peak capacity for three full days during April storms and that a berm breach allowed creek water to enter the facility; staff with Public Works contained the incident and the city expects to bid repairs in the coming weeks. He said a municipal order will be sought to fund the immediate berm repair because the expense was not included in the current budget.
On the proposed expansion, Bond said the city completed a facility plan with consultant JTL in November and has submitted that plan to the state for review. He said the next steps would be moving into the design phase with JTL and phasing work so that immediate regulatory needs and administrative space are addressed before large capacity additions.
Council members pressed the cost estimates. In a cost calculation presented at the meeting, Council Member Tony Bishop used a rule‑of‑thumb of about $15,000,000 per million gallons, which would imply a roughly $90,000,000 cost for a 6 mgd increase. Bond cautioned that construction prices have risen, and that the current conservative estimate for the full project stands nearer $120,000,000.
Bond also noted the city completed a 2024 rate study with HDRP and implemented new rates July 1 to help fund upgrades; Water District 2 handles billing for outside‑city customers and has taken most customer calls about rates, Bond said. He added a safety milestone: the wastewater plant surpassed 10 years without a lost‑time accident.
The council asked about timing and financing; Bond said state review of the facility plan is expected in coming months. No formal funding action or ordinance was taken at the Jan. 12 work session.
The next procedural step Bond identified is state approval of the facility plan and then moving into the design phase. Council members asked staff to return with more detailed cost and financing options once design estimates are available.