OCEANSIDE — Upgrades are planned for the Robert A. Weese Filtration Plant, which treats 25 million gallons of raw imported water a day and supplies potable water to Oceanside residents.
Improvements will replace the plant’s six solids handling lagoons with three new ponds, which will have a smaller footprint and be more efficient.
Current solids holding lagoons are made of concrete and asphalt and have a gravel bottom.
“They’ve reached their lifespan and are struggling with efficiency,” Jason Dafforn, Water Utilities division manager, said.
The new lagoons will be entirely concrete, which will increase their longevity and minimize their maintenance.
City Council approved plans and OK’d a call for bids Sept. 24.
Plant improvements will begin in January 2015, and be made top to bottom with new solids handling lagoons, pump stations, piping and values.
The plant was originally built in 1983 and last upgraded in 1996.
Plans and specifications for current improvements were drawn up in December 2013, with an original estimated cost of $4.7 million.
The updated cost for improvements is $2.9 million. The project will be funded by CIP new project funds and money from water sales and water meter charges fixed asset replacement accounts.
Dafforn said a number of factors account for the significantly lower final project cost, including design change, better construction methods and differences in material costs.
“We budget on the safe side,” Dafforn said.
Work is scheduled to start in the low water usage month of January to minimize impact on the city’s water supply. Dafforn said one lagoon would be replaced at a time, without any interruption to service.
The filtration plant is located in a rural area near Interstate 15. Neighboring homeowners will be notified of the work schedule.
Construction noise will be monitored on a biweekly basis to ensure it does not have a negative effect on area wildlife.
The project is expected to take eight months to complete.
