Work to begin on flood-damaged ONWASA plant

Jan. 26--Efforts to rebuild an Onslow Water and Sewer Authority facility that was flooded during Hurricane Florence are moving forward.

The ONWASA Board of Directors has approved a $1.4 million contract with Evoqua Water Technologies LLC of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to purchase essential equipment to begin rebuilding the Northwest Water Reclamation Facility (Northwest Plant), according to ONWASA CEO Jeff Hudson.

Hudson said the plant is operating within all state parameters using equipment ONWASA rented from Evoqua, which is the primary equipment supplier for the plant. It was Evoqua equipment that was destroyed in the flooding, and their equipment will replace what was lost, Hudson said.

The plant is currently running under 100 percent manual processes and Hudson thanked the ONWASA staff for their dedication in keeping the plant going until the facility can be rebuilt.

"I would like to thank the employees of ONWASA's wastewater division who are there 24/7 ensuring proper plant operations," Hudson said. "We have a long road ahead, but we have things under control."

The plant reconstruction is expected to take a year or more and the first phase set to begin will include the replacement of pumps, control panels and other equipment necessary for automation of two Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) units and two inoperable Disk Filter assemblies located downstream of the SBRs, according to information from the board's Jan. 17 meeting.

The systems provide primary and secondary treatment of all wastewater entering the plant.

Hudson said they estimate $5 million in total damage to the plant, which is expected to be covered by insurance and/or funds from FEMA.

Reporter Jannette Pippin can be reached at 910-382-2557 or [email protected].

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