Finance Committee - 1/2/2019 Page 4
Dave Boucher, Wastewater Superintendent
Thank you. This is for upgrades to 5 settling tanks, rather large settling tanks at the Wastewater Plant. This
project consists of replacing all the internal parts which consist of gears, chain drives. It also entails
reconstruction of some of the concrete inside the tanks. It also includes the construction of a small building
which will house the power for the drives and also the computer programming for the tanks.
Currently, all that stuff is in a below ground pipe gallery. It also consists of gate repairs and piping replacement
which are below ground in a pipe gallery. It is to improve the settling of these tanks also because the original
design was insufficient. It is reconstruction there is upgrades to it to make it run more efficient so there is going
to be concrete fill-its they call them, it is just slopes inside the tank that have to be reconfigured to help the
raker arms inside the tanks collect the sludge.
Mayor Donchess
What is the age of the existing tank?
Mr. Boucher
I’m not sure how far it goes back.
Mayor Donchess
It may go back to the 80s?
Mr. Boucher
Probably the 90’s sometime in the 90’s, | think when the primary, because the facility was done in phases, but
you may be right in the 80’s. Before me.
Mayor Donchess
That’s way before you.
Alderman O’Brien
Yes you did say something these are below ground facilities right now, so the new construction will bring it
above grade?
Mr. Boucher
Just the computer portion of it, the PLC’s and the computer program, we have a program which allows
everything to be monitored from inside our main administration building. Currently all that stuff is below ground
and not a weather controlled or climate-controlled environment.
Alderman O’Brien
Follow up just with a comment | was hoping that maybe we could get or eliminate some of the confined space
hazards that exist, but it sounds like it is better to be below grade with this gas correct?
Mr. Boucher
Well this is just the pipe gallery which is some pumps down there and some equipment that controls the gates,
they go up and down, will be below ground and some of the air, we also have air tanks below ground that
provide air to another part of the facility. Just all the computer stuff will be above ground.
