Date: Fri 22-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

sewer-treatment-plant-

Full Text:

WPCA Picks A Contractor For Sewage Treatment Plant

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

The Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) has endorsed hiring a Torrington

building contractor to construct the wastewater treatment plant for the

municipal sewer system.

WPCA members December 18 backed hiring C.H. Nickerson and Company, Inc., to

build the facility, which has been designed to handle almost a million gallons

of wastewater daily. The WPCA's recommendation is subject to action by the

town's purchasing authority, which consists of the First Selectman Bob

Cascella and Finance Director Ben Spragg.

Peter Grose, sewering project manager for Fuss and O'Neill, Inc, the town's

consulting civil engineers, said Nickerson submitted the lowest qualified bid

for the project at $8,795,300. Bids submitted for the work were opened in

October. One of the eight bids submitted was withdrawn.

One snag in the bid review process involved the lack of information submitted

by Nickerson concerning participation by minority-owned and female-owned

subcontractors in the sewage plant construction process. After reviewing the

matter, Town Attorney David Grogins found that Nickerson's bid is a valid bid,

according to Mr Grose.

Mr Grose said Nickerson has "good references" in terms of constructing sewage

treatment plants, noting that the company did work at Torrington's treatment

plant.

WPCA member Richard Zang termed the firm "major, reliable, experienced."

Fuss and O'Neill has forwarded the bid material to the state Department of

Environemntal Protection (DEP) for its review and the authorization to award

the sewage plant construction contract.

The plant will be the last component built in the town's $30.4-million sewer

system. The plant to be built at the end of Commerce Road will treat

wastewater from both the town and from the state's facilities at Fairfield

Hills. Of the nealry one million gallon daily treatment capacity, 660,000

gallons is reserved for state and 330,000 gallons for the town.

Besides laying additional sewer lines, the town will build four sewage pumping

stations to power force mains in the sewer system. The pump stations will be

built on Taunton Lake Drive, Baldwin Road, Glen Road and Hanover Road.

Negotiations concerning the town's purchase of land for building those

stations has delayed their construction.

The town is under a state pollution abatement order to rectify groundwater

pollution problems caused by failing spetic systems in the Borough, Taunton

Pond North, and Sandy Hook Center.