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Paradise sewer board OKs maintenance contract and requisitions; engineers flag high ammonia, damaged header pipe and contractor delays
Summary
At the May 5 meeting the Paradise Township Sewer Authority approved a semi‑annual maintenance contract with Mull’s Electric and two Construction Fund requisitions totaling $14,825 payable to Pumping Solutions, Inc. Engineers reported elevated ammonia since February, damage to a header pipe, and scheduled a May 12 meeting over Lobar's claim.
Paradise Township Sewer Authority on May 5 approved routine contracts and payments and heard engineering reports highlighting biological and construction problems at the wastewater treatment plant.
On motions that carried unanimously, the Board approved a contract with Mull’s Electric for semi‑annual maintenance and repairs and approved Construction Fund requisitions payable to Pumping Solutions, Inc. — WWTP‑060 for $10,782.50 and WWTP‑061 for $4,042.50 — for a combined total of $14,825.00. The Treasurer's report and payment of all administrative bills were also approved; the minutes record the Truist administrative checking balance as $361,659.42 as of March 31, 2025.
Rettew Associates engineers Abraham King and Aaron Dewald presented several operational concerns. They reviewed the March Discharge Monitoring Report prepared by plant operator Clean Water, Inc., which the minutes record showing an average daily flow of 118,940 g.p.d. and a maximum daily flow of 131,960 g.p.d. The engineers reported ammonia levels have been significantly high since February and authorized Clean Water, Inc. to sample and trace potential sources at pump stations. They also reported damage to the header pipe that connects post‑anoxic pumping tanks to the membrane common bioreactor, attributing the problem to excessive movement and inadequate restraint, and said that punch list items from contractors remain incomplete; the deadline for final completion was April 25, 2025.
Rettew will draft a notice to contractor Lobar regarding possible liquidated damages for the delay, and a meeting with Lobar and counsel is scheduled for May 12, 2025; Bryan Stoltzfus and Brian Groff are expected to attend. Engineers also recommended amending construction specifications to name the Sewer Authority as escrow holder and to set a standard escrow deposit at $2,500; amended specifications will be presented for adoption at a future date. Rettew and Clean Water attended a DEP site walkthrough on April 3 to close prior notices of violation.
Why it matters: Elevated ammonia and mechanical damage can impair treatment performance and downstream compliance. Contractor delays and incomplete punch lists may expose the Authority to increased costs and liquidated damages claims.
Next steps: Clean Water, Inc. will sample pump‑station discharges to identify sources of ammonia; Rettew will draft contractor notices and present amended escrow specifications and construction pay requisition procedures for future Board action.
