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Why a Temporary 2‑Million‑Gallon Basin Won’t Solve the Wintergreen Crisis and What Might
Summary
Engineers told boards a 2‑million‑gallon temporary equalization basin would not fit the site and would not address the plant’s treatment capacity shortfall; lease‑to‑own mobile membrane units, smaller rented units, or replacement membrane products were discussed as alternatives.
Nelson County Service Authority staff and consultants explained why a large temporary equalization basin is not a practical short‑term fix for ski‑season surges: the flow imbalance is too large and a two‑million‑gallon tank would not physically fit the Wintergreen site or be feasible to install before December. "To cover that deficit, the Authority would need a 2‑million‑gallon temporary basin, which would not physically fit at the Wintergreen site; the cost of that much temporary storage would be extremely high," staff said.
Consultants described lease‑to‑own arrangements for modular mobile membrane units as a workable alternative: rental of three units sized at about 100,000 gpd each was estimated at about $100,000 per month, with lease‑to‑own typically applying rental payments toward ownership over three to four years; equipment ownership was estimated at roughly $3.6 million plus setup costs. Director Cameron Lenahan also cited a smaller provider (Ground Effects Environmental Services) offering a 250,000 gpd option with shorter dispatch times and lower daily rental rates; staff said any option must meet DEQ permit limits and be assessed for regulatory compatibility before procurement.
