WILMINGTON — The Wilmington Wastewater Department will pursue two grants sponsored by the Ohio Public Works Commission in order to replace the Wilmington Wastewater Treatment Plant’s ultraviolet disinfection system and to replace 1,700 feet of sanitary sewer lines.
If approved, the wastewater department projects paying 30 percent of each project, a total of $387,870 from its fund. OPWC, meanwhile, would pay $905,030 of the $1,292,900 price tag.
Harry McVey, the plant’s supervisor, said the replacement project would ultimately affect 940 homes along Walnut Street, North South Street, Vine Street and Birdsall Street, if approved.
In addition to placing holes in streets and yards along the replacement’s path, McVey said the project could reduce basement flooding and decrease infiltration and inflow into the city’s sewer system.
The sewer line replacement project would replace 10 and 12-inch sewer line sections with an 18-inch line, according to McVey. Because the smaller sections are preceded and followed by 18-inch lines, it slows down the flow in that area. The replacement could address that issue.
McVey said more than half of the identified sewer lines are from 1936 and are susceptible to inflow and infiltration, which adds to the amount of water that has to go through the plant.
As for the UV disinfection replacement, McVey said the system is from 1988 and is the oldest such system in operation per the service company.
“If we could get some grant money, now’s a good time to replace it,” McVey said.
The modern system would also be more energy efficient, reducing operating costs, McVey said.
Wilmington council authorized Wilmington Safety and Service Director Brian Shidaker to apply for the grants Thursday, July 7. McVey said he felt like the city stood a good chance to win the grants.
Reach Nathan Kraatz at 937-382-2574, ext. 2510 or on Twitter @NathanKraatz.
