WILTON – Two major pieces of equipment have been replaced at the town’s Waste Treatment Plant in nearly half the time projected, said the plant superintendent. Preliminary figures show that the project is about 10 percent under budget.

Plant Superintendent Russ Mathers said two, rotating biological contractors were installed in 8.25 days rather than the 15 days that had been estimated.

The project was to replace old equipment with two new 22-foot shafts and media, a plastic material where microorganisms are housed to treat wastewater. Preliminary calculations, Mathers said, show that the project cost about $15,000 less than the $150,000 projected.

Each of the shafts weighs 3.5 tons, he said, and full of the plastic media and microorganisms, it weighs about 10 tons. Once the plastic is installed on the shafts, the wheel is about 10-feet in diameter.

Mathers said what could be done in-house was done, and Central Maine Rebuilders of Jay did the rest.

“Everybody involved in the project did a great job,” Mathers said.

The department’s savings will cover the cost of the repairs, so rates won’t be affected, he said.

Mathers said he was “thrilled with selectmen” for letting them proceed with their own plan and calculations to do the repair work.

The plant’s chief operator, Clayton Putnam, finished doing start-up on Monday, Mathers said. Putnam, a mechanic, was “real outstanding,” he said.

The old wheels were cut up with chain saws so they could be removed. But the new shaft had to come through a makeshift window of the building that houses the equipment.

It was a tight squeeze inside to get everything installed.

“It was quite the project,” Mathers said, “and the best part is they’re running.”

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