WILTON — Environmental engineers told selectmen Tuesday that they are committed to working with Wilton’s Sewage Treatment Plant, even though it’s 31 years old and has outlived its design expectancy by 10 years.
Engineers from Olver Associates of Winterport met with the board to discuss its assessment of the plant.
“The plant is not in immediate danger and it’s not ready to fall into the ground,” Bill Olver said. He acknowledged the work of the plant staff that has kept the facility going way past its life expectancy of 20 years.
Olver and an associate, Annaleis Hafford, told the board they committed to making it work because it saves money.
“Starting over isn’t what we like to do,” he added. “Upgrading the existing plant is usually cheaper than starting from scratch. The plant has a lot of potential to be renovated for another 40 years.”
Engineers visited the plant, started compiling information about it and its 30 pump stations. They wanted to meet with the board to outline their approach to be sure it is what the town was looking for, Olver said.
There are options to consider, he said, including building a lagoon plant, spray irrigation or even joining Farmington’s system. Farmington has indicated it might be willing to consider that option, but it’s not as simple as just saying “we’ll tie into another town’s plant,” he said.
The engineers are also looking at innovative features that were originally built in to the plant and whether they were successful.
“We don’t need to be innovative, just up to code,” said board Chairman Terry Brann.
Once Olver compiles his information, he plans to bring a report to the board, revise it prior to a public hearing and then seek potential funding.
Hafford described four basic options for help with funding on the renovation project, either grants or grant/loans that may be available for the town to pursue.
The engineers consider the town a “good candidate for funding,” a process that could take two to three years from the study to actual receipt of money, Olver said. He said he plans to report back to the board in January.
Comments are no longer available on this story