$167 million Norwich wastewater plant project expected to start construction this fall

Matt Grahn, The Bulletin
·4 min read

NORWICH — One of the biggest construction projects in Norwich’s history will soon be underway.

The Norwich Public Utilities wastewater treatment plant on Hollyhock Island will be replaced with a new upgraded building, with work beginning in the fall.

The new plant project went to out bid at the end of January and proposals are due March 29. Once a contractor is set, it's expected that the approvals will be given late spring, and construction is expected to start in the fall. It will be a three to five year build process, with the new system bring brought on line before the old building is demolished, Norwich Public Utilities General Manager Chris LaRose said.

“I’ve been here 25 years, and this is by far the biggest construction project we have,” he said.

Why now?NPU expects to spend $25 million on sewer and water work.

Old plant to remain functional during construction

The utility expects to spend at least $167 million on upgrading the Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hollyhock Island. Most of the existing plant will be demolished and replaced, except for the sludge building, which will be renovated instead, The Bulletin reported in Nov. 2021.

The plant will remain functional during construction, and adapt to other traffic on Hollyhock Island, which is why the project will take so much time. During construction, the work will continue throughout the year, but will be limited to the 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. noise ordinance. Once complete, the plant will last at least 25 years, Wastewater Operations Integrity Manager Larry Sullivan said.

Norwich Public Utilities Chief Plant Operator David Grundwalski points at the clarifiers at the Norwich Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hollyhock Island. Most of the plant will be replaced during a five-year project, expected to cost at least $167 million.
Norwich Public Utilities Chief Plant Operator David Grundwalski points at the clarifiers at the Norwich Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hollyhock Island. Most of the plant will be replaced during a five-year project, expected to cost at least $167 million.

The build will start from the administrative building, and go out. Some of the features of the new build will include three new clarifiers, a disinfection station, and the headworks, which is the point of entry for wastewater and reduces odor.

Other work related to the wastewater plant includes a new Rose Alley Pumping Station, and new wet weather combined sewer overflows treatment facility, according to an overview document from Norwich Public Utilities.

The current plant, which is almost 100 years old and last improved in the 1970s, needs to be upgraded because it does not meet current nitrogen emission standards and to maintain compatibility with the incinerators run by the Metropolitan District Commission in Hartford.

The incinerators are switching from treating the cake sludge the wastewater treatment plant currently makes, to liquid sludge, as the latter is easier to heat and requires less energy, and "the MDC is the only game in town" for processing sludge, Sullivan told The Bulletin in Nov. 2021.

The project will have funding through grants and loans. The loan is federal money from the Clean Water Fund, a 2% interest loan to be paid in 20 years, administered by the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. It isn't set in stone yet, but Sullivan is hoping for mid to high twenties for the grant percentage, which will also come from the Clean Water Fund.

The digester at the Norwich Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hollyhock Island. Most of the plant will be replaced during a five-year project, expected to cost at least $167 million.
The digester at the Norwich Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hollyhock Island. Most of the plant will be replaced during a five-year project, expected to cost at least $167 million.

However, there will still be additional revenue required from customers. There will be rate increases based on the project's total cost, an overview document from Norwich Public Utilities states.

Work on this plant not only benefits Norwich, but the nearby towns of Bozrah, Franklin, Lisbon, Preston, and Sprague, as they’re all connected to this wastewater system, and there are plans to expand Norwich Public Utilities' wastewater service, Communications and Community Outreach Manager Chris Riley said.

More:NPU panel authorizes sewer deals with neighboring towns

“The more towns we can tie into it, the better it is for our customers, because that brings the cost down for the customers of Norwich,” he said.

Four contractors interested in the project

As of Friday, four large general contractors have expressed interest in taking on the project, and attended a required meeting. The contractor that will be awarded the job is the one that can satisfy all the parameters at the lowest cost, can secure the bonding, and has prior experience in large-scale projects.  Whichever contractor wins, they’ll be hiring local trades people to fill roles, from truck drivers to carpenters, providing more jobs to the area, Sullivan said.

The city purchasing agent and the design engineer from firm CDM Smith will also review the bids. CDM Smith and Norwich Public Utilities will keep personnel onsite through the project make sure things are correct, Sullivan said.

“There’s no valves opened, and no pipes closed or shut off until NPU operations signs off on it,” he said.

One of the clarifiers at the Norwich Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hollyhock Island. Most of the plant will be replaced during a five-year project, expected to cost at least $167 million.
One of the clarifiers at the Norwich Wastewater Treatment Plant on Hollyhock Island. Most of the plant will be replaced during a five-year project, expected to cost at least $167 million.

NPU will be getting the affordability analysis, bid numbers and EPA affordability requirements. After all this, the project will need approval from NPU’s board, and then the Norwich City Council, LaRose said.

Given the scale of the project, safety is a priority. The safety program for Norwich Public Utilities is thorough, and will be in full force as around one hundred trades people may be working at a time, using and working alongside cranes and other heavy machinery. The contractors will be subject to safety inspections, Sullivan said.

“Safety is the first priority, and that will be something reiterated in every meeting that takes place onsite and during construction,” Riley added.

This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: $167 million Norwich wastewater plant project is out to bid