Nederland council receives progress report on water and sewer projects; study due by early August

City Manager De La Rosa reported detailed progress on Nederland’s water and sanitary-sewer work and said staff expects a draft of the citywide sanitary-sewer study for review in early August. "The clarifier number 1 project has reached substantial completion," De La Rosa said, and contractors are completing punch-list items after a final inspection in late June.

De La Rosa outlined next steps: engineering has begun design work for clarifier No.2 and is preparing procurement discussions for major equipment; planning continues for filter replacement and chemical feed improvements; and a wastewater-plant centrifuge replacement is in design as staff coordinate cost estimates with equipment manufacturers. On the sewer side, he said the citywide study is about 80% complete with smoke testing and flow-monitoring finished and that a draft report of recommendations and estimated project cost is expected for review by the end of July or, by schedule rules, no later than Aug. 7.

Council asked about homeowner notification for private-side issues identified in the study. De La Rosa said residents identified in the reports have not yet been notified and estimated "roughly 15 to 20% of the residential properties" could be implicated; staff said they will seek voluntary compliance after the final report is compiled. The city also reported that the Avenue D sewer replacement moved to the bidding phase, with sealed bids received and a lowest responsible bidder identified.