Construction begins at Oakmont wastewater treatment plant

An improvement project at Oakmont’s wastewater treatment plant on Ann Street is seeing steady progress.

Since 2021, borough officials have been overseeing a project to improve and modernize the plant for the first time since 2008. The project is being managed by a consulting agency, Hatch Engineering.

The total cost of the project is set at just over $18.8 million.

Council approved the start of construction in June at the recommendation of Colin Lampark, project manager at Hatch.

Lampark returned to council chambers on Tuesday night, for the first time since that vote, to discuss the progress.

Crews could be seen at the plant in early August. Since then, the site has been prepped for construction by Washington County-based Lone Pine Construction.

“The front of the plant from Ann Street looks considerably different,” Lampark said. “We have that front area of the plant graded and prepped where a new generator is going to live.”

An ultraviolet disinfection system and an expanded clarifier is planned for the opposite side of the plant. The new equipment is intended to make the plant more environmentally conscious by improving the aeration system.

The two clarifiers previously on-site have been demolished.

“The whole back of the plant — for lack of better terms — is ripped up,” Lampark said.

Clarifiers remove finer solids from water during the treatment process. A larger one is planned. It will allow the plant to process more water, more effectively. Construction for this is set to begin in the next few weeks and is expected to be operational next year.

Lampark previously told council the work is not expected to cause an increases of any odor from the treatment plant since the operations are not dealing directly with solid waste.

The project’s predicted completion date is June 2027.

The borough will be drawing from more than $18.9 million of available funds from a combination of $16 million in bonds, $1 million in bond earnings, $1.5 million in grants and $430,000 in other borough earnings.