Morgantown utility board and consultants lay out multi‑phase sewer and water plans, cite yearslong timeline and rate impacts

Morgantown Utility Board representatives and engineers presented a paired update on the utility—oard—oard's long‑term control plan (LTCP) for combined sewer overflows and a separate 25‑year water system master plan at the City Council meeting on May 19.

Eric Carlson, representing the Morgantown Utility Board, introduced consultants from Strand Associates and framed the LTCP as a federally and state required roadmap to control, not eliminate, combined sewer overflows. "The goal isn't to eliminate CSOs, the goal is to control CSOs," Carlson said. Strand's lead presenters, Scott Stearns and Sam Hostovar, described an alternatives analysis that prioritized projects by cost per gallon of CSO removed.

Strand presented five project groupings and recommended "Group 1," which emphasizes wet‑weather treatment at the Star City wastewater treatment plant and targeted conveyance work in high‑CSO corridors, including the Deckers Creek interceptor. Consultants gave preliminary cost ranges for the suite of projects at roughly $152 million to about $200 million. They estimated a high‑value Phase A wet‑weather treatment upgrade at about $40.3 million, which would raise the citywide CSO capture metric from about 70% to roughly 82%, and a Phase B Deckers Creek interceptor and associated reconfiguration at about $65.7 million that would help the city reach the 85% capture goal.

Sam Hostovar said the Deckers Creek alternative under consideration would replace aging south‑side interceptor segments with a new north‑side gravity interceptor tied to a pump station and force main. "The idea would be that pipe would be completely abandoned, and it would be replaced with a completely new pipe on the north side," Hostovar said, noting construction practices would be refined in preliminary design and that removal of the old pipe would be a design‑phase decision with cost implications.

Council members pressed on schedule and performance. "So, Eric, we're not meeting the objective requirement of 85% capture today. Where are we?" one councilor asked. Carlson answered: "We're at 70." He and consultants warned that the city is behind on implementation from prior LTCP updates and said phasing is necessary to keep rate impacts manageable and avoid potential enforcement such as consent decrees.

Consultants also described constructability tradeoffs. A fully gravity option would require very deep excavation in locations where the existing interceptor necessitates depths that are costly and difficult to build; a gravity‑plus‑pump option reduces depths and can be easier to construct in constrained corridors.

On funding and rate implications, presenters outlined a mix of grants and rate revenue. Strand and MUB staff presented sample tariff effects tied to specific projects: a wastewater treatment plant upgrade could raise sewer charges from $10.69 to $10.80 per 1,000 gallons for some customers; Deckers Creek‑related work could raise some customers' rates to about $11.23 per 1,000 gallons—an example that translates to roughly $1.83 more per month for an average bill payer. Carlson said the board will pursue grants and other external funding to limit rate increases where possible.

The consultants also presented the water system master plan, a separate but related effort with a 25‑year planning horizon. Scott Stearns and Sam Hostovar identified near‑term water projects including telemetry and control system upgrades for approximately 81 remote facilities, booster station replacements, targeted water‑main relocations (including work along Mount Boulevard), and a phased automated meter reading (AMR) program that would replace about 8,500 meters in early phases. Phase 1 of the water projects was presented at roughly $18 million, with additional Phase 2 design work estimated at about $3.6 million.

At council's request, presenters reiterated that cost and schedule figures remain preliminary and depend on design, bids and market conditions. "These are today's prices and they're estimates of today's prices," Carlson said. Consultants estimated design time at about 18 months for major elements and several years for construction, with full implementation of major corridors likely measured in multiple construction seasons.

Councilors and MUB staff agreed on next steps: advance preliminary design for prioritized elements, continue grant seeking, and return to council with more detailed scope, schedule and funding options before any formal rate or capital commitment.

The presentation drew a substantive Q&A session; no council vote was taken on the LTCP or water plan at the May 19 meeting. The MUB report and consultant materials will be finalized for MUB review and subsequent submission to the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection for regulatory coordination.