NORWICH – The City of Norwich Wastewater Treatment Plant is preparing to spend a substantial amount of money for two new pumps to replace those damaged by heavy rains and debris in the aftermath of September’s flooding.
The two pumps, with freight, installation and warranty, come with a price tag of $815,440; city department heads are working with FEMA and their insurance company to reduce the city’s financial burden and though some assistance is expected, the city anticipates a fiscal impact of replacing the parts ,according to Department of Public Works Superintendent Carl Ivarson.
“When we live in a flood zone,” said City Mayor Joseph Maiurano, “we can expect something like this ... we’ve been hit pretty good in the last few years and we can’t prevent something like that from happening again in the future.”
Ivarson, along with other city officials and plant workers, met with FEMA early Monday morning to discuss what aid can be given. The damaged pumps fall under FEMA’s “public utilities” category; if approved, FEMA may pay up to 75 percent of the costs while the remaining costs are evenly split between the city and the state.
“If it’s approved, we will be responsible for 12.5 percent,” Ivarson explained. “The state would be responsible for the other 12.5 percent.”
In September, the pumps were submerged in nearly eight feet of water, causing grime and sand stone to damage the spinning mechanisms of the pump. Moreover, heavy waters washed away thin layers of oil needed to protect vital pieces.
This is not the first time the plant has seen this type of damage, said Ivarson. Pumps were replaced two decades ago because of similar circumstances and more recently, the 2006 flooding impaired another of the plant’s three pumps, which was finally replaced in late September.
“When this happened last time,” said Maiurano, “we were looking for submergible pumps but the cost was too high ... that’s why we had to buy the pumps we have.”
The damaged pumps have been in use more than 20 years and because of their age, they are not covered under warranty, said Ivarson. The city is still waiting to hear from the insurance company to determine how much additional money will be needed as the city does not include such funds in the plant’s $1.1 million annual budget.
“I’ll have to wait and see where FEMA will go and where the insurance company will go,” said Ivarson. Presently, the pumps work, but it is uncertain how much longer they will be functional.
The city has the option of purchasing used, retrofit parts, said Ivarson, but the cons of doing so outweigh the savings.
“Used parts aren’t covered under any warranty,” Ivarson explained. The company refuses to cover used parts because of age.
Ivarson said he expects to hear back from FEMA and the insurance carrier within the next 30 days. After arrangements for the replacement process are in order, it may take an additional 20 weeks to be complete.