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Water staff reports 30-hour power outage; council urged to fund generator wiring and resilience
Summary
Public-works staff reported a roughly 30-hour power outage that forced bypass pumping, strained portable pumps and caused significant diesel-fuel usage; staff warned several lift stations lack wired generator hookups and urged future budgeting for resilience upgrades.
Water department staff (Speaker 6) told the Lebanon City Council on April 30 that a recent power outage left several lift stations without power for about 30 hours and required bypass pumping and portable pumps to avoid a sanitary sewer overflow.
"We are out about 30 hours with that power outage... the plant was out until 30 hours after it started," Speaker 6 said, describing an extended outage that required emergency measures. Staff said the plant and booster station came back on late Wednesday night and that bypass pumping prevented a reportable SSO.
Speaker 6 said backup systems were limited: some stations have automatic generators while others require manual hookup, and several lift stations are not wired to accept the backup generator the city purchased. Staff estimated significant fuel use for the emergency generators; the transcript records about 600 gallons and referenced a roughly $5 per-gallon diesel cost, and staff said a substantial bill will follow.
Council members asked whether cost estimates and prior wiring/estimate studies exist; staff answered that some estimates had been prepared previously and that the new Hunter Street station has a compatible hookup. Staff said EPA had been notified and that they would provide more recent cost estimates for wiring generators and hooking lift stations.
Council asked for follow-up information and budget planning to harden key stations against future outages, including costing and permitting requirements for generator wiring and hookup work.
