NEWPORT -- With only minimal discussion, city councilors on Wednesday awarded a $67 million design-build contract to AECOM & Nickerson for needed upgrades to Newport's water treatment plants.
The contract includes a $62.3 million fixed design-build cost, and another $4.7 million in contingencies. In December, the City Council signed off on a bond ordinance approving the issuance of revenue bonds not to exceed $85 million for the project, the balance of which is expected to be covered by legal and engineering fees.
The selected design concept calls for the construction of a new Lawton Valley plant located on the site of the existing 4-million gallon reservoir adjacent to the existing (circa 1942) plant.
According to the city, "The new building will be an aesthetically-pleasing, highly functional structure constructed from high quality, durable and easily-maintained materials. The 4-million gallon reservoir would be demolished to provide space for the new plant and will be replaced with a new, smaller 1.75-million gallon tank that
would have more "turnover" (usage) and thereby decrease the amount of time the water remains in storage before it is supplied to consumers."
At the Station I plant, extensive upgrades to the existing facility are expected to restore the plant's 9-million-gallon per day capacity.
At both plants, advanced carbon filtration technology will be deployed, significantly reducing the levels of organics found in the water, and thereby, the amount of chlorine dispersed through the system.
The new facilities will also incorporate "green" principles and sustainable, energy efficient components including requirements of the Rhode Island Green Building Act.
The funding for the improvements will be provided by subsidized loans from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF), administered by the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency (RICWFA) and the Rhode Island Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water Quality (RIDOH).
The improvements are being made per a directive issued by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Major work is expected to be complete by December 2014.
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