Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The city has taken another step toward making critical capital improvements to its wastewater treatment facility.

The Crest Avenue plant in Riverside was built in 1954 and had its last major upgrade in the 1970s. It currently does not meet environmental regulations mandated by the state Department of Environmental Management.

To upgrade the plant by the DEM's 2012 deadline, and give it the capacity to handle the waste of a potential full build-out of East Providence's waterfront, the city has hired consultants who believe the project will cost $70 million. Barrington has its waste purified at the facility, so the town will pay 20 percent of the costs. The rest is East Providence's responsibility and city officials hope to get a low-interest loan to pay its portion.

The City Council approved a request for proposals Tuesday night. City officials and their consultants will send the material to companies it believes could handle the job and will give them until July 14 to submit a bid.

Companies, or a team of firms working together, are vying to design, build and then operate the sewage plant for the city. In this procurement, the city retains ownership of the plant and control over setting the sewer rates. The chosen company must also sign memorandum of agreements with current plant workers.

Those vying will submit two important figures within their bids -- an amount to complete the renovations and an annual service fee to operate the plant for the city. City officials plan to evaluate the proposals and interview the companies in the fall and execute a contract agreement by the end of 2009.

Nearly all of the council members emphasized their concerns about raising sewer rates. They said they will not approve a price tag that the city and its taxpayers can't afford and hope the bids come in well under $70 million.

 Tags  East Providence RI Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

Comments

CJ said:

Thank God! It stinks! Every time I drive past it I want to vomit...it's an embarrassment to the city.

Link | April 23, 2009 2:32 PM
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