Town sewer plant project progressing

By Sandy James
Review Staff Writer

Published: May 15, 2008

Last month, the Orange Town Council voted unanimously, to award the contract for upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant to English Construction, whose low bid came in at $21,950,000.
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) notified the town in early 2004 that the existing plant, which went on line in 1990, was exceeding permit capacity and was in violation of DEQ copper standards.
According to Bryant Thomas, DEQ’s Regional Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) Permits Manager, “Permits and the waste load allocations established and/or implemented by permits are designed to ensure that the beneficial uses of receiving waters are protected in accordance with the Virginia Water Quality Standards.  Beneficial uses include functions such as supporting healthy aquatic life, recreational uses, and supporting fish that can be consumed without health implications.  We develop individual VPDES permits which ensure receiving waters are protected.  This includes local receiving waters as well as downstream water bodies.”
The town operates water and wastewater treatment plants on Spicer’s Mill Road, beside the Rapidan River. Water is drawn from the river, treated and distributed to water customers in Orange, along Route 15 and in Gordonsville.
Nearby, wastewater is collected, treated and returned to the Rapidan River, downstream of the water plant’s intake.
“The nitrogen and phosphorus waste load allocations are aimed at protecting the more distant receiving waters of the Chesapeake Bay. These allocations were developed considering all sources of nutrient loadings in the Rappahannock River Basin, including point sources and nonpoint sources. In the case of sewage treatment plants, the allocations are a function of the design flow of the facility,” Thomas said.
Town council employed engineers Wiley and Wilson, Inc. in 2004 to study what would have to be done to bring the plant up to DEQ standards. At the same time, the town began looking for ways to finance a new plant. 
The town entered into a consent agenda in 2006 with DEQ which provided for 3 million gallon per day (MGD) plant.
“Discharge permits issued by DEQ are developed to protect water quality. Regardless of the hydraulic capacity of the facility (e.g. 2 MGD or 3 MGD), permit requirements must be met and these requirements are established to protect water quality in the receiving stream,” said Thomas.
“We agreed we were in violation of the permit and we would build a new plant to meet Chesapeake Bay regulations, if the town could afford it,” said town manager Cole Hendrix.
“Ray Lonick, who was mayor at the time, was very active in seeking financing,” said Hendrix.
The town made an application for a grant from the state. Eligibility was based on the economy of the town.  This had to be based on average income and utilized 2000 census data. 
“The economics were such that we were eligible for a sizable grant,” said Hendrix. 
The town negotiated with DEQ for a 90 percent grant. This 90 percent was only applicable in nutrient removal aspects.  The total project cost was estimated at $24 million. 
“The nutrient removal grant was $8.2 million and they would loan us $16 million. 
We eliminated some things and reduced the cost by $481,000,” said Hendrix.
The consent order was signed and construction drawings continued.
Bids were take in early December 2007, with the low bid coming in at $21,950,000.  The low bid came from English Construction of Lynchburg.
“It’s taken four years from the time we were notified.  We looked for solutions, we found a way to finance, we took bids and we are now ready to begin,” said Hendrix.
There was a slight hold-up when the town needed a special use permit (SUP) to purchase a 2 ½-acre buffer for the plant.
The Orange County Planning Commission voted 8-2 to approve the special use permit at their February meeting. District 4 representatives Tom Bundy and Terry Apperson voted against the recommendation.
The Orange County Board of Supervisors (BOS) approved the town’s Special Use Permit (SUP) for its 3 MGD wastewater treatment plant upgrade and expansion, at the March 26 regular meeting in a 3 to 2 vote. The vote was put off at the March 11 meeting.
District 2 Supervisor Zack Burkett and District 4 Supervisor Teri Pace voted against the SUP. Pace and Burkett were concerned with the 3 MGD capacity.
BOS chairman Mark Johnson said the 2 ½-acre addition to the existing 5-acre site is needed for a buffer required by DEQ regardless of the plant size.
“I don’t know if what the town is doing is right or not, but they have come to the conclusion that this is the direction they want to go,” said Johnson.
“It’s just good business sense and the right thing to do. You have to make sure you have adequate sewer capacity, not just for today, but for 20 years from now, said former mayor Lonick.
“The town is always in trouble with DEQ. We have to have all this resolved by 2010 to meet the Chesapeake Bay mandate,” he said.
Lonick said the cost factor is important in considering the plant size.
“We can build a 3 MGD plant for almost the same price as a 2 MGD plant,” he said.
Lonick said the initial DEQ push was for a 2 MGD plant but town engineers showed them technical reasons why a 3 MGD plant is better.
Lonick said inflow and infiltration (I&I) problems increase the need for the 3 MGD plant.
The leaking of surface and rainwater into the sewer lines in town greatly increases the amount of water that must be treated.
“I & I problems will never go away. It is cheaper in the long run to treat I & I water than to rip up all the sewer lines,” Lonick said.
The town has recently purchased $40,000 worth of camera equipment which will help locate inflow and infiltration problem areas in the sewer lines.
“This equipment will give us the opportunity look inside the sewer lines and correct problems as needed,” said Jeff Dodson, director of public works.
“DEQ offered us the allocation for a 3 MGD plant. It was a ‘take-it-now-or-it-may-not-be-available-when-you-need-it situation’,” said vice mayor, Rick Sherman.
“It cost us less than $2 million more to build a 3 MGD instead of a 2 MGD plant. Our consultant (Wiley and Wilson) said if we go with 2 MGD, we may need extra capacity by 2017,” Sherman said
With the special use permit hurdle behind, the town is moving forward with the construction process.
“The plant will change from a trickling filter process to activated sludge. The sludge digestion process will change from anaerobic to aerobic. There will be several new tanks and buildings,” said chief operator Michelle Steinberger.
The current chlorine treatment process will be changed to an ultra-violet light process.
The town hopes to have the upgraded plant operational and in compliance with DEQ regulations by 2010.