https://archive.triblive.com/news/connellsville-municipal-authority-hires-contractor-to-fix-sewage-plant-connection/
Connellsville Municipal Authority hires contractor to fix sewage plant connection
Connellsville Municipal Authority this week hired Glenn Johnston Inc. at a cost of $70,644 to work on a problem with the connection between the West Side pump station and the sewage plant, located on the opposite side of the river.
The only stipulation to the work is that the dig site not be left open during the July 4 weekend. The work must be completed by July 14.
Board member Pat Duncan said work had been done on a pipe linking the two sites in 1996 after a problem had developed in 1995. He said a potential problem had been found this past February when minor flooding had indicated a bubbling underground over the pipe site.
“The West Side pump station collects all the flow from the West Side of the city and conveys it through a pump under the (Youghiogheny) River to the plant, here,” said Vaughn Leer, authority engineer from Widmer Engineering. “We're going to retrofit the piping inside the pump station and put a brand new forced main (connection) from the pump to over near the sewage plant.”
Jodi Enany, authority chairperson, questioned why the connection was not being made to the full 14-foot depth of the original pipe.
Leer said the cost of the dig to go down 14 feet would be approximately double the amount of the drop to dig 10 feet, as specified in the contract.
Duncan reminded the other board members the cost could go higher if something was found during the dig that would require more work.
However, Leer said the probable result of the work would be to make the change as projected without further cost.
The motion to award the contract passed unanimously.
In another report, Leer said no word has been received from the state Department of Environmental Protection on the status of the authority's permit. He added the authority would continue to operate under the old permit until DEP decided what action to take on a new permit.
The authority discussed possible future DEP requirements for treating discharge before release, such as the use of UV lighting to irradiate the discharge.
The authority received word that the West Penn Power rate for providing electricity to the West Side pump station would now be based on peak energy use.
Karl Polacek is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at kpolacek@tribweb.com or 724-626-3538.
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