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Board hears urgent reports on wastewater pump failure and costly upgrade options
Summary
Board members were told a long-running pump and valve failure at the wastewater plant forced a temporary bypass and generated a contractor estimate of roughly $300,000 for an upgraded live-well/pit system; staff said they will seek further estimates and clarified safety and engineering concerns.
A months-long wastewater pump and valve failure that left crews running a temporary bypass and using an emergency pump took center stage Thursday as city staff described repair options and costs.
Staff said a technician’s error had removed bolts securing a pump and left the city operating on a temporary bypass since late August. The plant’s design includes a 30-foot deep dry pit that staff said is dangerous to enter; the temporary solution places a submersible pump in a live well and runs discharge piping to preserve service while crews evaluate permanent repair options, staff said.
“Two pumps were intended to be in place, and when the bolts were removed the system began to fail,” the Staff member said, describing the sequence that led to the bypass. The staff member said one contractor returned with a proposal that estimated roughly $300,000 to build a new pit and install the upgraded live-well system, but that contractor would not provide a separate figure for fixing the immediate damage.
A Committee member asked why the city could not simply reinstall submersible pumps in the existing pit and repair valves, a lower-cost approach. Staff answered that the existing pit must remain dry for the current design and that the valve and flow problems suggested additional failures beyond a single part. Staff said they will obtain competitive estimates and consult an engineer to stamp any required plans.
Board members pressed safety concerns. “We can’t keep sending people down that pit,” the Staff member said, urging a solution that limits the need for confined-entry work. The board asked staff to obtain another estimate from a different contractor (Bob Gunn was mentioned as a contractor providing a follow-up estimate) and to provide a clearer split between near-term repair costs and full upgrade costs.
The Staff member said the city believes it will be responsible for certain immediate expenses such as the roughly $50,000 temporary pump currently in use but emphasized that the contractor who damaged the system should provide a repair estimate as well. Staff said they will explore hiring their own contractor for portions of the work to reduce costs and will return with firm numbers and stamped engineering plans if an upgrade is pursued.
There was no final vote on the project at the meeting; the board directed staff to obtain additional quotes and engineering input before making a funding decision.
