Debt service for the project could increase customer bills by about $2.50 per 1,000 gallons, to $8.50 per 1,000 gallons.
The recommendation is the result of a Bankson Engineers study of the borough's water system to determine how to resolve an ongoing problem with discolored water caused by above-recommended levels of manganese.
High manganese levels can cause discoloration, odor and taste problems, but authorities say the water is safe.
The borough replaced sand in the filters at the plant, which has lowered the manganese level, but long-term improvements, such as filter replacement, are needed to permanently resolve the issue.
Elevated manganese is not a health threat, but the Allegheny County Health Department and the state Department of Environmental Protection have asked the borough for a long-term plan for water plant and distribution system improvements.
Kevin Szakelyhidi, with Bankson Engineers, said the $5.3 million price tag includes a dozen improvements at the plant, plus replacement of three waterlines closest to the plant.
Work Would be Two Years Away
Szakelyhidi said it could be two years before work would begin because of engineering requirements, permitting and the approval process for a low-interest loan from the state's PennVEST program.The most costly water plant upgrades include $1.4 million for new pressure filters, which filter out contaminants such as manganese.
Councilman David Spirk said the filters are in poor condition so those are a top priority.
Other recommendations include removal of an air stripping tower, which is used to filter out volatile organic compounds, which are not present in the source water Springdale gets from its wells; as well as automating the water softening system and other areas of the plant so that it doesn't have be manned at all times.
Bankson is also recommending spending $306,000 for a filter backwash equalization tank, which would include a sedimentation tank to allow debris to settle after the filters are backwashed.
Then the water could be discharged into the Allegheny River rather than sent to the sewage authority for treatment.
Borough officials believe that in the long run, the improvements will save money on employee overtime, maintenance costs and sewage treatment fees.
The waterline improvements Bankson recommends includes replacing a 10-inch line on Colfax Street between Pittsburgh Street and the water reservoir with a 12-inch line, at a cost of $1 million; and two 4-inch lines, one on Rosslyn Avenue between Porter Street and Elwyn Avenue and another on James Street from North Railroad Street to Marion Avenue.
That work would cost a total of $988,000.
Second Option Presented
Bankson Engineers offered council a second option with only water treatment plant improvements, which totals about $3 million.That option would increase customer water bills by about $1.50 per 1,000 gallons.
“It's been awhile since we've done major improvements, and it's time we do something,” said Spirk. “Plus, the county health department is asking for improvement plans.”
©2016 The Valley News-Dispatch (Tarentum, Pa.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
