Richmond amends $162,400 purchase order to advance 20-year wastewater study; pump-station siting narrowed

The Richmond Water and Sewer Commission on Oct. 20 amended Purchase Order 5010 to $162,400 to cover additional engineering and field work for the wastewater treatment facility 20-year study and related pump-station and force-main flood-mitigation work.

The amendment, described by staff as covering wetland delineation, surveying, outreach, ordinance review and grant-application assistance, was moved by David, seconded by Jay, and passed on a roll-call vote of five yes, zero no. The commission recorded the action as an amendment to the ongoing study and authorized continued consultant work toward a final engineering report.

Commissioners said the consultant team has completed a preliminary engineering report and will submit a final copy as the next step. Staff noted the group reviewed funding options and that any bond vote to finance major capital work would likely come later — possibly next summer or fall — once final costs and a repayment plan are clearer.

A lengthy follow-up discussion focused on siting a replacement or elevated pump station and the force main that runs under the town bridge. Commissioners reviewed multiple options: sites across Bridge Street near the Round Church (which would require deep excavation, temporary pilings and possibly blasting), a raised concrete structure near the waterhouse (visually intrusive), on-site replacement at the current location (requiring lane closures and temporary bypass pumping), and an alternative parcel behind the current pump station identified by Gary Russer that sits above the 100-year floodplain.

Bard framed the engineering tradeoffs: "We're looking for the Goldilock spot, not too low, not too high," and questioned how deep foundations and excavation would affect historic structures and neighborhood views. Staff said the alternative parcel would likely reduce the need for a large above-ground structure; engineers estimated an excavation depth on that parcel of roughly 18 feet for gravity flow and noted it sits above the 100-year but not the 500-year floodplain.

Commissioners said the next step is to sit down with the landowners (John and Lauren) to determine whether the property could be purchased or whether a rights-of-way agreement is feasible. Staff will return with the consultant's final report and more exact cost estimates for construction and mitigation measures.

The purchase-order amendment and the commission's direction to pursue landowner discussions were the meeting's most immediate outcomes; the commission did not schedule construction work and emphasized that design and financing remain subject to further study and formal votes.