The Nucor Road Wastewater Treatment Plant needs equipped to handle more sludge in order to support future development of the Interstate 74 corridor, consultants say.
A proposed $3.5 million expansion of the plant calls for eventually increasing the daily output to 600,000 gallons of treated wastewater from the current 100,000 gallons, according to a report from Ft. Wayne-based consulting firm BCS Management.
The new figures are based on projected flow rates over the next two decades with room for additional expansion depending on growth in the zone, where the county seeks to attract new housing, business and industry. BCS Management President Lana Beregszazi has met with landowners to determine who’s interested in selling.
“We’re not going to develop 100% of that acreage, that’s just not realistic to plan for that,” she told members of the Montgomery County Regional Water and Sewer Board.
As activity builds in the corridor over the years, the treatment plant would be able to respond to increased demand on the system.
Concrete tanks could be installed at the plant and ready for additional equipment to be purchased without having to hire a general contractor for the next expansion.
“You don’t have to go through this whole phase again. Everything will be on site for that,” said Shannon Killion, assistant engineering manager for GAI Consultants of Indianapolis, which oversees the project design.
Total construction costs have not been finalized. The board will meet again at 3 p.m. Dec. 16 in the South Boulevard County Building to approve the fees.
In October, the plant had an average flow of 39,700 gallons, according to the latest figures presented to the board
Flows ranged that month from a minimum of 30,000 gallons to a maximum of 63,000.
