Sewage flows uphill in Athens, but city officials are taking steps to ensure that none hits the fan.
After a 1990s-era sewage pump at the Waste Water Treatment Plant failed, Athens City Council adopted an emergency ordinance Monday that will allocate $55,000 to repair or replace the pump and prevent a fecal flood.
The pump, which has worked continuously since its 1997 installation, is one of two that push sewage uphill to the plant and there could be serious consequences if the remaining pump fails.
“If the second pump were to fail right now, sewage would be backing up in basements within minutes on the east side,” said Andy Stone, Director of Engineering and Public Works. “It’s very important that we get it repaired rapidly.”
Those “extremely critical” pumps are among the largest in the city, Stone said, adding that all sewage around Athens reaches the plant for treatment through those pumps.
The city will try to fix the pump first, but will purchase a new one if it will be more cost effective, Stone said.
Both pumps were scheduled for replacement soon as a part of an estimated $13-15 million overhaul project for the plant, slated to begin January 2013. The project is expected to take 18 months.
“We’re balancing that attempt with the issue of this pump needing repair,” Stone said. “We don’t want to buy a new pump now and then set it on a shelf later when we start the project.”
Still, the pump failure presented a “precarious situation” for council to quickly make repair funds available, said Councilman Kent Butler, D-1st Ward.
“This was unexpected and thus required immediate attention,” he said.
The emergency replacement of the pump is expected to happen within a few weeks, with the labor for the replacement costing no more than about 10 percent of the project.
Money for repairs will come from the sewage fund, but Stone said the city plans for unexpected emergencies and has some funds set aside to cover costs.
Though Stone says the remaining pump can continue to move sewage uphill, a second pump should be in working order as quickly as possible.
“We shouldn’t take chances,” he said.
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