[Press Release] : Two new centrifuge machines installed

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

You have received this message because you subscribe to the City of
Columbia’s Web Mail service. To view linked material click on provided
links or copy and paste them into your browser's address menu.
______________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Public Works Department - (573) 874-7250

Two new centrifuge machines installed

COLUMBIA, MO (March 9, 2007) -- The city of Columbia Public Works
Department announces two new centrifuge machines have been installed at
the Columbia Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant. The new centrifuges
have twice the capacity of the older machines they replaced. Digested
sludge is sent through these large centrifuges that operate like the
spin cycle of a washing machine. The force from the fast spinning of the
centrifuges separates most of the water from the solids in the sludge,
creating a substance know as biosolids. The city’s original
centrifuges were installed as original equipment when the treatment
plant was constructed in the early 1980’s and were pushed to their
limits, requiring both to be in operation 24/7. 

The start-up and operation of the new centrifuges to handle normal flow
conditions will allow the old machines to be rehabilitated and placed in
a standby/backup mode. Having four centrifuge machines available
provides a great deal of flexibility and operational alternatives, and
increased future capacity. 

Black and Veatch Consulting Engineers were contracted to develop
procurement documents for the centrifuge machines and provided
evaluation of the competitive bids. 

The successful bidder for the machines was Andritz AG for $1,277,500. A
40-foot by 40-foot metal building was necessary to house the new units,
including all of the miscellaneous electrical, plumbing and pumping
equipment. This part of the project was awarded to Prost Builders Inc.,
Jefferson City, for $518,650. The city Water and Light Department
provided two 13,000 volt to 480 volt three-phase transformers and
necessary high voltage wire. The total project cost was approximately
$1.8 million. The funds for this project were provided from sewer
utility 2003 revenue bonds and enterprise revenues. 

The centrifuge project is the beginning of major rehabilitation and
expansion of the Columbia Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Additional improvements to the treatment plant will be funded from a
future bond issue. Anyone having questions may call the Public Works
Department at (573) 874-7250.

- 30 -
______________________________________________________

Archived press releases can be viewed online at: 
http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Public_Comm/Public_Information/Press_Releases/

______________________________________________________

If you would like to stop receiving messages, modify list options, or
subscribe to other lists visit the Web Mail section of our Web site and
follow the instructions provided. 

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Web_Mail/index.php 


** Virus scanned by City of Columbia MO Spam/Virus Firewall **