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PIERCETON - The town of Pierceton heard from Astbury about a well protection plan, sludge disposal, the UV systems and repairs to the control panels during a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 11.
Matt Rippey, with Astbury, provided a summary of the wastewater systems' inspection in June and gave the council a better idea of what is going on at the treatment plant. He told the council that the application for the wastewater treatment plant that is due in February 2027 was signed and is in the works.
The town’s well water protection plan was overdue and needed to be done every five years, according to Rippey. He noted that it was due back in June. This service would include filing an extension, looking for any issues with the town’s wells, contaminations, or other issues, and was quoted at $1,450, which was approved.
Rippey noted that in an inspection on July 27, two exceedances were seen in phosphorus and total spent solids in the sewage. His team sampled some of the sludge on the dry beds, which had been building up and were able to get much of it cleaned out and taken to a landfill after the samples were tested and permits were given. He told the council it would be a better idea to look into using septic bags again, which the town had used “once upon a time,” according to Rippey, because they could be used year-round, and “wouldn’t be dependent on weather.”
Rippey also noted that the two large surge tanks were both full, and they are working on slowly draining them back to the plant. He noted the tanks were full because of the massive amounts of rain that occurred earlier this year, but they are slowly getting them back to a manageable level.
The UV system treats the water at the treatment plant, and Astbury was able to get all the ones that were not working up and going. However, he noted that two racks with bulbs will not work. He let the council know that they have two companies they have talked to for the two racks. One company will replace the racks and the other will repair them. Rippey noted that it is doing a “good job disinfecting the water,” as “UV bulbs are 200 times more powerful when it comes to sterilizing.”
Council Vice President Matt Brubaker asked if Rippey had quotes yet, which Rippey noted they are still waiting on them.
Lastly, Rippey noted the repairs on the control panels, and gave the council two quotes. The first quote from Flow Techniques came to $8,500 but does not include installation; while D&D Electric would install but gave a quote of $37,425.
“With Flow Techniques' proposal, will it get us updated and help us be set for the future?” asked Council President Glenn Hall.
“Yes … it’s two systems … and it’s kept very simple,” said Rippey.
The council approved the quote for Flow Techniques, since it was an urgent matter.
