Wastewater plant update: consultant work helped avoid major upgrade; grant work continues
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Summary
DPW reported the wastewater budget is nearly flat after removing transfer/contingency anomalies, said consultant treatment work has averted a potential $10–13M upgrade, and that sludge hauling and chemical costs may rise in the next bid cycle while a UV grant awaits federal grant-administrator assignment.
DPW staff told the Board that wastewater operating lines are stable after accounting adjustments, and that ongoing work with a consultant has reduced the risk of an immediate, very large plant upgrade.
The presenter said the apparent $258,000 change in wastewater is driven by account transfers and contingency lines; removing those items shows the core wastewater budget essentially flat year over year. He described prior permit-era risks and how consultant AECOM’s chemical-treatment work and operational changes have kept the town within permit levels, averting an estimated $10–13 million plant upgrade that was once considered possible.
The department also warned of upstream cost pressures: sludge-hauling contractors expect 20–25% increases in the next bid cycle and chemicals and supplies for nutrient control (nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc) remain ongoing costs. The presenter said the town spends modestly on consultant oversight to evaluate new treatment technologies and to preserve permit compliance.
Grant status: DPW described progress pursuing a grant (federal/EPA-linked) for ultraviolet treatment and said the town has secured initial approval but is awaiting assignment of a grant administrator (likely the EPA) to finalize specifications and move to bidding; DPW emphasized that work contingent on grant commitment will not proceed without funding confirmation.
Next steps: DPW will continue AECOM oversight, put sludge hauling and service contracts out to bid, and coordinate with grant administrators before obligating capital for grant-dependent projects.
