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WEIRTON -- Projects planned to expand the capacity of Weirton's water and wastewater treatment plants have hit a stumbling block, although officials are hopeful there won't be too much of a delay.
Both the Weirton Area Water Board and the Weirton Sanitary Board have been working over the last few years to develop plans to double the treatment capacity of their respective plants to 8 million gallons per day.
The Water Board held a bid opening at the end of October, with two contractors submitting bids; however, both came in approximately 32 percent over estimates.
Consulting with state and federal officials, as more than $24 million had been provided by the federal government, the board received a waiver from the Build America Buy America Act regulations, but was advised to get new bids in the event prices might come in lower without those regulations.
"We're going to throw all of those out and rebid the project," Weirton Area Water Board Chairman Ronnie Jones explained following an executive session held during the board's meeting Thursday.
During Monday's meeting of Weirton Council, Utilities Director Butch Mastrantoni said it was anticipated those new bids could be available sometime in early February, and then, potentially, the Water Board could move forward.
"We're looking at about a 40-day delay," he said.
The Sanitary Board held its own bid opening this month, receiving three bids in a range between $37 million and $40 million.
"The bids were very tight," noted Jesse Alden of Thrasher Engineering, adding that gives a good indication of the true range of the cost for the project.
It was explained, though, those bids were still approximately $11 million higher than had been anticipated.
Board representatives, as well as members of the professional team put together to assist in planning the project, have a teleconference scheduled for today with state officials in the hope additional funding can be provided.
With a 90-day hold on the Sanitary bids, the board has until early February to make a decision.