Plant becomes operational
SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — The Slippery Rock Municipal Authority’s new wastewater treatment plant on Crestview Road is up and running.
The $9-million plant, which replaces the authority’s old plant, became operational Nov. 1, said Paul Dickey, authority general manager.
Construction began in May 2013.
Dickey said the original plant was built roughly in 1955 and renovated in 1964 and 1982.
“It was out of date. Old technology,” Dickey said.
An evaluation of the plant showed the system was aging and could become overloaded during periods of heavy rain. The original plan was to renovate the old plant, but it was decided it would be more cost effective to build a new one.
The new plant is automated.
“The computer is running the plant,” Dickey said.
He said the old plant had no automation.
The only piece of equipment from the old plant at the new plant is the belt filter press, which presses sludge out of the water. Dickey said the manufacturer felt it would be worth saving and continuing to use.
Chivers Construction of Erie County was the contractor. The project was engineered by HRG Engineering in Cranberry Township.
The plant can handle up to 1.2 million gallons per day. Currently, its flow is 800,000 gallons per day.
The authority’s new, $5-million water plant located on Hines Road became operational last February. It has become the primary source of water for the authority.
Dickey said a couple of the pumps at the plant have to be modified, but other than that, the plant is working great.
In 2002, the authority started looking for a new source of water because of a decline in the water level of its two wells located at the site of the authority’s old water treatment plant on Forrester Road. The water source on Hines Road was found to have good quality and similar chemistry to the source at Forrester Road.
A $2-million renovation of the authority’s old water plant, which is still in use, is expected to be bid out within the next month or two. Dickey hopes construction will begin in the summer and be finished before the end of the year.
The renovation will include new electrical controls, new filters and remodeling.
The authority is looking at possibly replacing a water line along Kiester Road this summer at a cost of $300,000. Dickey said the line is old, undersized and has had a couple leaks.
Additionally, Dickey said the authority possibly will be painting its water storage tanks within the next couple of years, which is estimated to cost $750,000.
The current rates for the authority are $5.70 per 1,000 gallons of water and $6.50 per 1,000 gallons of sewage. Rates have not increased since 2013. Dickey said it is possible the sewage rate may increase in July, but he said it is not certain.
The authority has 1,750 water connections. It serves customers in Slippery Rock borough and parts of the township.
