The City of North Royalton is looking to convert one of the city’s two Wastewater Treatment Plants into a pumping station. This conversion is expected to ultimately save the city money, while operating a more efficient system.
Currently, the city has Wastewater Treatment Plant “A,” located on Royalton Road, which treats mostly the southern section of the city, and Wastewater Treatment Plant “B,” located on Sprague Road, which treats most of the northern section. The northeast portion of the city is treated by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District.
A resolution was unanimously adopted at the February 16 City Council meeting that authorizes the Mayor, City Engineer and Wastewater Superintendent to apply to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for permission to convert the city’s Wastewater Treatment “B” Plant into a pumping station. According to the legislation, “the North Royalton Consolidated Sewer District operates two wastewater treatment plants, “A” and “B”; and “B” Plant is aging and may need significant and expensive repairs and upgrades within the next three to five years; and Council desires to explore all possible avenues to serve the public and to do so in the most efficient and economical manner; and Council desires to explore the potential of converting “B” Plant into a pumping station for the potential cost savings that would be derived.”
North Royalton Wastewater Superintendent Mark Smith said that the request to the EPA was submitted earlier this month. Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz is hoping to hear back within about three to six months. If the EPA approves the plan, then the design of the project would begin. The project, which is expected to cost approximately $11 million would include the conversion of “B” Plant to a pumping station, the construction of a sewer main from the “B” to “A” Plant, which would run down Abbey Road, and the addition of two tanks at “A” Plant. Smith said the main would be part force main and part gravity main. He also said the two additional tanks would accommodate the wet weather flow. If Council then approved the plan, the specs and bid package would then have to be formulated. “I’d love to get the bids out for this by the end of the year, if possible,” said Antoskiewicz.
“If the city kept “B” Plant as a treatment plant, it would have cost the city about $20-30 million in repair and updates, as well as the cost of the permit and personnel to keep it operating. That plant was constructed in the 1960s. If “B” Plant stops treating the wastewater, the city would no longer have to have someone there 24/7 and would no longer need a permit to operate it,” he said.
Not only would the proposed plan have an impact on how the city treats wastewater, it could potentially have an impact on economic development.
Antoskiewicz noted that the area on Abbey Road is one of the biggest open pieces in Cuyahoga County, but it is not sewered. Community Development Director Tom Jordan said that the area that would be impacted consists of about 242 acres, which is primarily zoned General Industry and Research Office. By giving those properties sewer access, it makes them more able to be developed, especially since the widening of Rt. 82 in that area is near completion, giving direct access to I-71. There are also 27 residential lots on Abbey Road, which are currently septic, that would be tied in to the sanitary sewer.
Jordan said that the city will seek alternative funding sources for this project.
“It’s like Rt. 82, we were applying for funding as the project was moving forward,” Jordan said. If the EPA and Council approves, the project will then move forward with design and bidding. Smith said the construction of a project like this should take one to two years.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer