Wastewater project moves forward

A major project for Portland’s wastewater treatment plant took its next step forward Thursday.

Portland Board of Works approved a letter of agreement with Jones and Henry Engineers of Fort Wayne for $1.05 million in construction services and a resident project representative for a new pump station and equalization (EQ) basin at the facility.

Jeff Hersha of Jones and Henry explained to board of works members Jerry Leonhard and Steve McIntosh, absent Mayor John Boggs, that the EQ basin and pump station are the next step in the city’s agreed order with Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) that was signed in 2008. It is intended to eliminate combined sewer overflows (CSOs) in the city by increasing the wastewater plant’s capacity. (CSOs occur when the amount of water in the system exceeds its capacity, causing untreated stormwater and wastewater to be discharged into waterways.) 

The new system will allow excess water to be pumped into the EQ basin during times when the system is overloaded. That water can then be pumped back and treated before being discharged. (IDEM rules require that the EQ basin, which also has mixing and aeration, must be cleared within 72 hours.)

He added that Portland’s initial application through the State Revolving Fund Loan did not score well in part because of the city’s sewage rates.

“You are still significantly lower than a large portion of project recipients,” Hersha said. (The monthly rate is currently $34.56.)

Adjustments made during a re-application process improved the score, but still left Portland short. However, after several projects dropped out, Portland was able to qualify for the $6.9-million, low-interest loan.

Hersha noted various issues that have led to changing the design of the project, and thus increasing engineering costs. One of those is that the facility’s existing wet well is about 4 feet more shallow than is shown in the original 1956 schematics and a 1970 update. The change in depth impacted the hydraulic calculations for the entirety of the process. Other issues led to the new pump station being moved east and south of its original site and the EQ basin being shifted to the west and south. It has also changed in size, making it smaller in diameter but also deeper.

He said he plans to send information required for bid authorization to the state Monday with a goal of advertising for bids for the projects in the next two weeks. The  process with the State Revolving Loan Fund must be complete by the end of January.

Laying out timelines for the work, Harsha said construction of the EQ basin is expected to take 330 days with the pump station to take 515 days. Completion is expected in October 2025.

Leonhard and McIntosh approved the letter of agreement with Jones and Henry, accounting for engineering services related to the construction process and having a resident project representative on site.

Once the new pump station and EQ basin are complete, the next step via the agreed order with IDEM calls for construction of an oxidation ditch.

In other business, the board:

•Approved the installation of a third and final variable frequency drive from Peerless Midwest at the city’s water treatment plant at a cost of $28,045. The department had already installed two such drives to replace mechanical pumps in an effort to save on utility costs by making the process more efficient.

•OK’d a water bill adjustment of $150.30 for 405 S. Vine St. following a leak.

•Approved the city’s Department of Homeland Security non-discrimination policy.

•OK’d rental agreements with Jay County Chamber of Commerce, Jay County Development Corporation, Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau, Jay/Portland Building and Planning and Jay County Commissioners for offices at Community Resource Center. Clerk-treasurer Lori Phillips noted that the leases have been on a month-to-month basis and not updated since 2005. Rent on the spaces was increased to $350 per month from the previous $325.