Plymouth – Plymouth could get up to $2 million is grant money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, according to consultant, Richard Prima. Prima told the Amador County Regional Planning Committee last week that he expects Plymouth to qualify for up to $2 million in grant money for repairs to the city’s wastewater collection and treatment system. The California Revolving Loan Fund program will disperse the funds, and Prima said the state found that Plymouth is eligible for a “principal forgiveness” loan – a grant – due to low household income. Prima said the grant could pay for repair of the treatment and collection system, but could not fund neglected maintenance that the state thinks “should have been done.” That included problems with sludge removal from storage ponds. Prima said that could mean up to a $250,000 cost to the city. Prima said Plymouth’s current wastewater utility budget is roughly $400,000 a year. With a current population of 1,033 people, Prima projected Plymouth wastewater flow to jump from the current 127,000 gallons per day to 410,000 gpd by 2027, when the city population could be 3,696 people. He said Plymouth’s system has infiltration problems, or seepage into the system, shown by flow increases after rain events. Partial repairs have been made under Cease & Desist Order requirements, and the system needs additional repairs that could cost $300,000 to $750,000. Plymouth is permitted for 170,000 gallons a day wastewater flow, but has an interim flow of 97,000 gpd, under the Cease & Desist Order, issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, after leaks at the main storage pond. Prima said for Plymouth, the cost of meeting future regulatory requirements “will be troublesome” and “will not get any easier.” He said regionalization is not necessarily the solution, as shown by problems with a regional wastewater plant on the American River, the “biggest river in the state.” Prima said a regional plant there is “having problems with their effluent (water released into the river) being a large part of the river” downstream from the plant. Plymouth City Council on Thursday will consider approving a Professional Services contract for Preparations of Plans & Specifications for Wastewater Improvements and related items for the Recovery Act grant funding. Prima will recommend to authorize City Manager Dixon Flynn to approve task orders under existing professional service contracts with Weber-Ghio & Associates (not to exceed $51,850) and Nolte & Associates (not to exceed $85,000) for preparation of plans and specifications and to execute federal grant documents related to wastewater improvements. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.