MONROE - The primary clarifier at the waste water treatment plant will get a $150,000 makeover with new components to give the structure another 20 years of life.
The Board of Public Works voted unanimously for the replacements at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 3, because the rest of the plant facility is currently going through a $24 million upgrade.
The $150,000 is minor compared to the total cost of the project, board chairman Reid Stangel pointed out. Member Chuck Schuringa voted for the upcharge, so the replacements wouldn't be "tearing things up" in the future.
Al Eckstein, director of the city utilities, said the extra money is available in the contingency fund portion of the contracted cost.
The officials with the general contractor, Miron Construction, recommended an inspection to determine the structural condition of the components and their ability to withstand blasting and reconditioning. When the contractors move from stage to stage within the construction of the WWTP, they assess each area to identify issues, according to Eckstein.
According to the condition report, by simply rehabilitating a majority of the components, the clarifier would give about 10 more years of service, at an additional cost of $15,000-$25,000.
Replacing poor and aged parts with new components for about $147,000 would create a full 20 year life expectancy.
According to the field service inspection report, all parts showed wear and would not last another 10-15 years. Blasting, too, would reduce the thickness of the parts and would cause more structural damage.
Photos of the aging parts showed severe rust and corrosion.
Specifically, the report identified the truss, cage, scum blade, trough, support gussets, anchor bolts and the center pier, the main support of the clarifier, as rusting away.
The only item that could possibly be saved is the bridge, the report added.
Summary of inspection is that "all parts other than the bridge should be replaced along with a new H-drive to avoid a clarifier crush in using any original parts under the operation torque of a clarifier.
The new style H-drive also has a 1.5-inch lower housing drain pipe, compared to the old three-quarter inch pipe, to reduce clogging.
The Board of Public Works voted unanimously for the replacements at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 3, because the rest of the plant facility is currently going through a $24 million upgrade.
The $150,000 is minor compared to the total cost of the project, board chairman Reid Stangel pointed out. Member Chuck Schuringa voted for the upcharge, so the replacements wouldn't be "tearing things up" in the future.
Al Eckstein, director of the city utilities, said the extra money is available in the contingency fund portion of the contracted cost.
The officials with the general contractor, Miron Construction, recommended an inspection to determine the structural condition of the components and their ability to withstand blasting and reconditioning. When the contractors move from stage to stage within the construction of the WWTP, they assess each area to identify issues, according to Eckstein.
According to the condition report, by simply rehabilitating a majority of the components, the clarifier would give about 10 more years of service, at an additional cost of $15,000-$25,000.
Replacing poor and aged parts with new components for about $147,000 would create a full 20 year life expectancy.
According to the field service inspection report, all parts showed wear and would not last another 10-15 years. Blasting, too, would reduce the thickness of the parts and would cause more structural damage.
Photos of the aging parts showed severe rust and corrosion.
Specifically, the report identified the truss, cage, scum blade, trough, support gussets, anchor bolts and the center pier, the main support of the clarifier, as rusting away.
The only item that could possibly be saved is the bridge, the report added.
Summary of inspection is that "all parts other than the bridge should be replaced along with a new H-drive to avoid a clarifier crush in using any original parts under the operation torque of a clarifier.
The new style H-drive also has a 1.5-inch lower housing drain pipe, compared to the old three-quarter inch pipe, to reduce clogging.