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Wastewater-plant startup delayed after generator gas-service problems; contractor accepts responsibility
Summary
Staff reported that work at the wastewater plant is delayed because Patterson Wharf could not secure timely gas service from NISCO for the new generator; Patterson admitted responsibility and Commonwealth and town will re-evaluate the substantial-completion date as NISCO says its work will take two to three weeks.
Town staff updated the council that the wastewater treatment plant project remains delayed because the contractor and its vendors have not completed gas service work needed to commission the facility's backup generator.
"Much of the discussion involved Patterson Wharf explaining why it took so long to have the NISCO gas service for the new generator completed," a staff member (Speaker 3) told the council and said Patterson "acknowledged they were ultimately responsible." The staff update listed recent on-site work (underground pipe testing, electrical work, bar screen installation, sludge-bag dewatering) but said that startup and training cannot proceed until backup power and gas service are reliably in place.
Staff said the contractor submitted an application this month and that Commonwealth and the town held a virtual meeting June 18 to discuss a time-extension request. NISCO told participants it would begin work and estimated two to three weeks to complete its portion; staff emphasized that substantial completion cannot be certified until a startup is scheduled and backup power is demonstrated.
Wastewater operations reporting included recent flow metrics and pond work: council heard that the plant received 15,107,000 gallons into the plant with about 15,000,000 going out during the period discussed, and staff said ponds and liner work were being considered for Ready grant funds pending engineering coordination with Commonwealth. Staff also reported purchase of a trash pump and that contractors procured some equipment while the town needs to buy hoses and fittings.
Staff asked the council to allow Commonwealth and the town to monitor progress over the coming weeks, after which a new substantial-completion date will be set. "It was determined that the town and Commonwealth would see how the following weeks progressed and when substantial completion date could be set," the staff member said. The council asked staff to keep the record updated and return with a recommended timeline once NISCO's work and the contractor's startup/training schedule are confirmed.
