Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Plant Asbestos topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
City moves to abate asbestos at water treatment plant; Board acknowledges emergency purchases
Summary
Inspectors found asbestos cement pipe in Filter No. 3 at Smithville's water treatment plant; the Board acknowledged emergency abatement and a change order to replace underdrain systems, approving related resolutions unanimously.
City staff reported that inspection of the Water Treatment Plant revealed an asbestos cement underdrain originally installed in the 1970s in Filter No. 3. Laboratory testing showed no detection of asbestos fibers in the City’s water samples, but staff recommended full replacement of the asbestos components as a precaution.
B&R Insulation, a licensed asbestos abatement contractor, provided a removal cost estimated at approximately $19,000. Ross Construction quoted about $173,000 to replace the underdrain systems with stainless steel piping and plastic diffusers. Staff said abatement work was expected to begin the following week, with material lead times of approximately five weeks; filters would be backwashed and tested before being returned to service and additional water sampling would continue to ensure regulatory compliance and public safety.
The Board approved Resolution 1513 acknowledging the emergency expenditure and approval of Change Order No. 1 for replacement of the filter underdrain system with David E. Ross Construction, and later approved Resolution 1516 acknowledging an emergency purchase for removal and disposal of asbestos piping with B&R Insulation. Both resolutions passed unanimously (6–0).
City staff emphasized ongoing sampling and testing during abatement and replacement work; no adverse water‑quality results were reported in the meeting record.
