Weirton City Council members hear update on utility expansion plans
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WEIRTON -- Members of city council, earlier this week, received an update on projects which would expand water and sanitary services in Weirton, doubling the capacity at each of the city's treatment plants.
Utilities Director Butch Mastrantoni estimated the Weirton Area Water Board and the Weirton Sanitary Board are each 50 percent complete with the planning phases for the projects, which, he said, began as a result of conversations in 2018 with an industrial company expressing interest in locating operations in Weirton.
While the city was not able to meet the company's needs at the time, and it opted to go elsewhere, Mastrantoni said those discussions provided a focus for Weirton officials as other development opportunities began to come into view.
"The table has never been set better than it is today," Mastrantoni said. "This is the first opportunity I've seen with a unanimous goal."
Currently, Weirton's water treatment plant and sanitary wastewater treatment plant has a maximum treatment capacity of 4 million gallons per day. During dry times, Mastrantoni explained, the wastewater treatment plant currently is treating 3.6 million gallons per day.
Jesse Alden, project manager and design engineer with the Thrasher Group, noted the wastewater treatment plant expansion will include upgrades to current equipment, with new tanks and equipment installed.
"Everything in the plant has some type of upgrade," Alden said.
Plans call for an initial expansion of up to 8 MGD treatment capacity, with the potential for a second expansion of up to 12 MGD in the future, if needed.
On the water treatment side, Jonathan Carpenter, a principal with Thrasher, explained the building dates to 1965, with various upgrades over the years and the capability of drawing in water from an in-ground tank system and the Ohio River.
"You have two sources," he said, noting most communities are limited to only one source for their water supply.
Multiple upgrades to existing systems are planned for the water treatment plant, which would take it from the current 4 MGD to a capacity of 8 MGD.
Much of the next year is expected to focus on finalizing, and receiving approval, for the designs of the projects and their funding sources.
Mastrantoni said officials anticipate being able to advertise for bids on the sanitary project by June 2022, with construction contracts awarded that November and construction taking place from December 2022 to August 2024.
Bid advertisements for the water project could happen by March 2022, with construction taking place between September 2022 and April 2024.
Barb Zimnox, of the Brooke-Hancock-Jefferson Metropolitan Planning Commission, reported there are multiple funding sources being reviewed for the projects, including through loan programs from the state of West Virginia and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, as well as grants. The possibility of using funds from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 also is being investigated, as funds from the COVID relief legislation are being earmarked for improvements to water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
Upon questions from council, Mastrantoni noted there would be rate increases anticipated as a result of the expansion projects, but how much would depend on how much, and what type, of funding is used.
"We whittle away at it and make it affordable for our customers," he said.
Current sanitary rates are a minimum $15.60 per month, which includes a charge of $4.19 per 1,000 gallons and a $8.09 customer charge.
Water rates have a minimum of $15.01 per month, with a charge of $7.02 per 1,000 gallons and a customer charge of $7.99.
Mastrantoni said Weirton is the 21st least expensive sewer service of 319 in the state, according to the West Virginia Public Service Commission, and the 50th least expensive of 367 water services.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com, and followed via Twitter @CHowellWDT)