HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council approved applying to take out money from the state's low-interest revolving loan fund for improvements for the wastewater collection system, the wastewater treatment plant, and the water distribution system.
The loan applications will include funding for the following improvements:
1. Sewer collection system improvements consisting of the replacement of self-priming wet-well mounted pumps and related accessories with submersible non-clog pumps.
Buried valve vaults including sump pits. Coating of new and existing structures in contact with wastewater and/or corrosive gases. Bypass connections after the valve vaults, receptacles and manual transfer switches for operation from a portable generator, ultrasonic level indicators and grease control by mixed-flush or wet well cleaning control systems. The anticipated amount for the collection system improvements will be $2,750,000.
2. Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements consisting of headworks grit removal equipment replacement with an estimated amount of $820,000.
"Our Wastewater Treatment Plant is designed to handle 8.3 million gallons a day," said Public Works Director Brian Clennan. "That's just normal, average daily flow. Our average daily flow is anywhere from 4 to 5 million gallons a day. We're sized well for what we're seeing. We've got the ability to grow and send more wastewater to that facility."
3. Water distribution system improvements consisting of the replacement of approximately 1.3 miles of 6-inch cast iron waterline in various locations generally bound between K-61 and Town/1st and 9th with an estimated amount of $1,205,000. This is actually less replacement than is recommended year to year.
"The city used the American Water Works Association's build no longer pipe replacement modeling tool to determine how much water line we need to be replacing every year and in 2023, that model says we need to be replacing 3.3 miles of water line," Clennan said. "We're going to only replace 1.3 miles in 2023. That's purely due to the amount of revenue we've got available. That's the amount we can afford."
That's why the council talked about raising water rates as part of their budgeting process.
"In 2024, we're looking at replacing 1.5 miles, in 2025, 2.25 miles, in 2026, 2.25 miles and in 2027, 2.7 miles of water line."
Sixty-two percent of the city's water pipes are cast iron, that accounts for 94% of water main breaks.