This kicked off a comprehensive renovation of the facility to optimize its investment and meet projected future permitting targets. Hann said the mechanical dewatering implemented in the project reduced total costs for offsite hauling while also increasing cake dryness.
“The original system utilized gravity waste boxes and required operators to handle solids daily,” Hann said. “This system will reduce total hauling volume and enhance operations, freeing up valuable operator time.”
The 4.2 million gallon per day conventional activated sludge process witnessed rehabilitation and expansion. Garver held a workshop on the conceptual design with city official that explained the costs and risks so as to align them with the city’s goals. Condition assessments with CCTV and hydraulic modeling scored assets for renewal priorities to once again make the most of the city’s expense.
In the end, Garver delivered a detailed design for a new lift station, headworks, aeration basins with a new blower facility, final clarifiers, return activated sludge pumping and channel improvements, waste activated sludge pumping, a disinfection system, a new non-potable water system, aerated sludge holding, the aforementioned new dewatering building, electrical updates, a new SCADA system and numerous other site civil and yard piping upgrades.
“Trust across stakeholders was critical to moving this project forward when unforeseen escalation from COVID caused bid prices to exceed available funding,” Hann said. “The project team was able to pivot to identify the highest priority and most critical elements of the project scope and find alternate solutions that allowed the project to move forward with the available budget and funding. The collaboration and development of trusting relationships with the contractor, owner, equipment supplier, and engineer made this possible.”
Armed with such detailed information, Garver and Bay city pursued and will receive $38 million from Texas Water Development Board in state revolving funds for the project. It is expected to be completed in December 2026.
