Officials explain need for new water plant

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

PRINCETON — Inadequate capacity, an aging facility, and high operation costs are just three reasons why Princeton needs a new water treatment plant.

On Thursday evening, Princeton City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh and Princeton Superintendent of Water Mike Eggers reviewed the water plant project at a special meeting at city hall. About 10 people attended the meeting.

The city’s water treatment plant has been a growing concern for at least the last 15 years, Fiegenschuh said.

In 1995, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency threatened to put the city on a restricted status because of insufficient water capacity issues with the plants and wells. At that time, the Princeton City Council commissioned a study on the plant and decided to make improvements to the current plant which would extend its life another 10 years. Those 10 years are gone, and the city has spent $1 million on upgrades at the plant since 1995, Fiegenschuh said.

After a second study was done in 2008, the city council determined rehabilitation work at the current plant may have a lower initial cost but would have a higher operations cost due to the age of the plant. The estimated life of an upgraded plant is only about 20 years. There were also separate issues and concerns with the city wells, Fiegenschuh said.

Also, the current plant is landlocked and has no room for expansion. To do the needed rehab work, the facility would have to be shut down, which means the city would need to take temporary measures to compensate, Eggers added.

Looking at the city’s options, the council decided building a new plant and wells at a different site would be less expensive in the long run. A new plant would have a 50-year life span, and the new location in the tech park would give room for expansion as needed. A new plant would also provide upgrades in automation and technology, making it more efficient. Also, there will be no production disruptions during construction and start-up of a new plant.

In giving an overview of the project, Fiegenschuh said Phase 1 includes new wells and well houses, the construction of a backwash lagoon just north of the new water tower and the construction of seven lime collection lagoons on the east edge of the tech park.

The total construction cost of Phase 1 is about $3 million, which is $400,000 under engineer projects. The city has received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funds for the project, including $900,000 in forgivable loans and grants. The remainder of the needed funds will be through zero percent interest rate loans, to be repaid during a 20-year period.

The zero percent interest rate would save city taxpayers about $1 million in interest during the 20-year period.

Phase 2 of the project is to build a new water treatment plant in the tech park. The city will establish a citizens advisory committee this summer to help with the design of the new plant and to also get ideas on how to keep costs down, Fiegenschuh said.

In looking at the time line, Eggers said the bid process for the new plant will begin next winter, with construction of the plant to begin in Spring 2011. With all things working smoothly, the plant should be built by the fall of 2012 and online by the winter of 2013, or possibly even sooner, Eggers said.

To pay for Phase 2, Fiegenschuh said no stone will be left unturned in seeking money. The city is working hard and will apply for grants, stimulus funds and low interest loans. The cost of the new water treatment plant is estimated at $16 million.

Comment on this story at www.bcrnews.com.