The Authority continues to undertake capital improvements to its wastewater treatment plant and sewer system in an effort to upgrade customer service, support development in the Municipality of Norristown, and comply with Federal and State water quality requirements while maintaining reasonable sewer rates.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
In 2023 the Authority completed a sewer plant upgrade that significantly overhauled the operations of the facility. The project consisted of the:
· replacement of the existing influent pumps, blowers and related aeration facilities, and sludge dewatering system and
· replacement/renovation of the buildings or structures housing this equipment, including the construction of a new maintenance garage.
The objective of the work was two-fold: (1) to replace existing units beyond their useful life with highly efficient equipment that would improve the operational aspect of the treatment process as well as reduce operating expenses, primarily electricity, maintenance, and landfill disposal of sludge and (2) to flood proof as much of the treatment plant facility as possible so as to mitigate the effect on any flooding on the cost and timeliness of a recovery. The Authority spent over $14,000,000 on the plant upgrade and financed it with a bank loan and internal funds.
The administration building servicing the wastewater treatment plant was damaged during the flood of 2022. Renovations to the interior of the building were completed in 2024 and included a new HVAC system, upgrades to the electrical and communication equipment, new walls, flooring, windows, and doors, and finally new facilities for our in-house laboratory. The total cost of the renovations was approximately $450,000 and was paid for with internal funds.
The Authority is in the design phase for two capital projects at the wastewater treatment plant. The first project involves flood proofing the remaining pumps, motors, and electrical panels that were not included in the plant upgrade by replacing them with modern and flood resilient equipment. This undertaking will be financed in part with a 50 percent grant from the State of Pennsylvania. The other capital improvement focuses on replacing and relocating the electrical transformer that provides service to the treatment plant as the transformer has reached its useful life and its location is subject to high winds and potential damage from flooding. Equipment for both projects has been ordered through the COSTARS program since there is a delivery time of 9-12 months. The cost of this undertaking is estimated to be $600,000. It is anticipated that both projects will start in the third or fourth quarter of 2025 and conclude in early 2026. The Authority has sufficient funds in its Capital Account to pay for the estimated $1,200,000 project costs net of the grant.
Several aesthetic improvements have or will be pursued to improve the appearance, safety, and functionality of the wastewater treatment plant. This work includes the paving of the back road, installation of a canopy attached to the belt filter press building to stop rainwater from mixing with treated sludge before landfill disposal, replacement of entire sidewalk in the front of the plant since it has numerous cracks and loose concrete, and the installation of a new fence which will enhance the security and look of the treatment plant. The total cost of this work has not been determined but each aspect will be undertaken as internal funds become available.
Sewer System
The Authority’s focus for the sewer system is customer service, development, and infiltration/inflow reduction.
As part of its normal maintenance program, the Authority has instituted an aggressive monthly cleaning of the sewer pipes by area to help increase the longevity of the lines and mitigate the possibility of sewer blockages. In addition, it annually budgets money for root control in the sewers and the relining of select manholes in an effort to reduce the intrusion of infiltration/inflow or rainwater into the system.
The Authority has been actively addressing the condition and capacity of the sewers as they pertain to two potentially large developments in the Municipality. The first development is a combination of apartments and townhomes totaling 3330 units that is being built on the site of an old high school. After televising the receiving sewers, the Authority’s consultants recommended the lining of several sections of sewer and the replacement of the most severely damaged pipes. The work was completed in 2023 at a cost of approximately $200,000. Tapping fees from previous development in the Municipality provided sufficient funds for the project.
As for the other large development, the Municipality obtained a major parcel of land situated in the Norristown State Hospital Complex. A recent capacity study of the Authority’s collection system concluded that there was an estimated 887 equivalent dwelling units or EDUs of available capacity along the flow path from the Norristown State Hospital Complex to the wastewater treatment plant. Based on the Zoning Map and the high potential for redevelopment, it was estimated that the State Hospital Complex could potentially connect a total of 2,550 EDUs or more if it were to be developed in the near future. As a result, NMWA is undertaken the replacement of three existing sanitary sewer pipe segments with larger diameter PVC piping to increase the available capacity of the collection system along the flow path to promote the redevelopment of the property for the benefit of the community. The replacement of the three segments with larger diameter piping would increase the available capacity of the collection system to 3,900 EDUs, which would accommodate the potential re-development at the State Hospital Complex. The project is expected be completed in early 2025 and will be funded by a grant from the State of Pennsylvania.
Finally, the Authority has established a long-term program of periodic systematic metering of the sewer system in an attempt to isolate areas of excessive infiltration/inflow (I/I) so that follow up televising can be conducted to develop the optimum approach to rectifying the situation either by the lining or replacement of the most severely damaged pipe. Currently, the Authority has identified three areas with unusual high flow and is working with its consultant to quantify the work that might be needed to achieve this I/I reduction and thereby increase capacity in the sewer lines and at the treatment plant. Preliminary analysis indicates an estimated cost of $1,500,000 to address the situation. The Authority is planning to undertake the requisite work in early 2026 with the cost to be covered by a combination of grants, tapping fees and other internal funds.
Click here for a presentation describing our Capital Initiatives for the next two years.