Wynne Water Utilities has passed the first hurdle in the rebuild of the wastewater treatment plant destroyed in the March 31 tornado.
Wynne Water Utilities General Manager Blake Marotti presented the preliminary engineering report to board members last night.
According to the report, the oxidation ditches only sustained minimal damage in the storm. Marotti told board members that even the control panel is still functional. The utility was in the third year of a four-year process to replace the four aerators in the ditches and has one more to purchase.
Nearly everything else, Marotti said, will be a complete rebuild.
Marotti discussed several modifications and upgrades for the plant with board members. Marotti said he chose equipment that is easy to operate as well as maintain, but there will be a learning curve on the new technology.
Marotti said the plant will also have added redundancy and will have the potential to treat double the flow of the former plant. The cost of the project is estimated to be around $20 million.
Marotti said the preliminary report was the first step in the project, which will now move to the bidding process. Marotti said the board would be heavily involved in the project.
Marotti then gave a brief update on the new utility office. The opening has been delayed into January. Countertops, paint, and a few other items still have to be completed.
