2018 Water Bond and McBaine Water Treatment Plant upgrades

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City of Columbia Water & Light is beginning significant upgrades that will restore the reliability and the capacity of the McBaine Water Treatment Plant. On Oct. 26, 2023, the City of Columbia Finance Department and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated finalized the sale of bonds from the voter-approved 2018 Water Ballot Initiative. The funds have been transferred to the City, an important step that will make this rehabilitation project possible.

At the Nov. 6, 2023, meeting, the Columbia City Council authorized Water & Light to open the bidding process for the improvements. The project will be bid with Base Bid improvements as well as Add Alternate improvements, which would be awarded as funding would allow once bids are evaluated.

The project is expected to restore the plant's capacity to treat 32 million gallons of water per day and includes rehabilitation and replacement projects that will enhance the performance of and extend the life of the facility.

HDR, a consultant for the City, has completed the scope of design, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has approved the permit application.

The Base improvements include:

  • Aerator replacement
  • Softening basin improvements
  • Filter improvements
  • Reclaim basin improvements
  • Lime feed improvements
  • New chemical feed systems and building

Add Alternate improvements include:

  • Maintenance building
  • Filter building improvements
  • Recarbonation chemical feed system

With the close of the bond sale, an adjusted customer base charge has gone into effect with the first billing cycle in November 2023.

Residential customers will see a $2 per month base charge increase (from $10 to $12), with commercial customers' rates increasing proportionally based on the customer’s water meter size.

The voter-approved 2018 Water Ballot Initiative allowed Water & Light to sell $43 million in revenue bonds for the purpose of maintaining and upgrading the City’s water infrastructure. Other projects supported by the 2018 Water Bond included water main replacement and relocation, the Southwest water tower, pump station upgrades and well platform improvements.

Water & Light and HDR, a consultant for the City, gave updates to the City Council on Phase 1 of the McBaine Water Treatment Plant improvement project Nov. 28, 2022.

City staff and HDR have developed a phased approach to the construction of the project to address current market conditions.

Water Treatment Plant improvements will meet near-term water-quality goals and capacity needs in addition to establishing long-range water-quality goals informed by treatment costs and benefits and are anticipated to include the following:

  • Restoration of original plant capacity by rehabilitating several treatment processes.
  • Replacement of plant equipment that has reached the end of its useful life, such as aerators, softening basin mechanisms and process instrumentation.
  • Modification of filters to improve filtration performance to meet Groundwater Under the Influence turbidity goals.
  • Addition of recarbonation to the softening process to provide greater control and enhance finished water quality.
  • Automation and controls of the WTP and distribution operations.
  • Rehabilitation of the building to maintain previous investments and provide more efficient operations.

This page will be updated throughout the lifecycle of the upgrade project. Check back for any updates.

City of Columbia Water & Light is beginning significant upgrades that will restore the reliability and the capacity of the McBaine Water Treatment Plant. On Oct. 26, 2023, the City of Columbia Finance Department and Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated finalized the sale of bonds from the voter-approved 2018 Water Ballot Initiative. The funds have been transferred to the City, an important step that will make this rehabilitation project possible.

At the Nov. 6, 2023, meeting, the Columbia City Council authorized Water & Light to open the bidding process for the improvements. The project will be bid with Base Bid improvements as well as Add Alternate improvements, which would be awarded as funding would allow once bids are evaluated.

The project is expected to restore the plant's capacity to treat 32 million gallons of water per day and includes rehabilitation and replacement projects that will enhance the performance of and extend the life of the facility.

HDR, a consultant for the City, has completed the scope of design, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has approved the permit application.

The Base improvements include:

  • Aerator replacement
  • Softening basin improvements
  • Filter improvements
  • Reclaim basin improvements
  • Lime feed improvements
  • New chemical feed systems and building

Add Alternate improvements include:

  • Maintenance building
  • Filter building improvements
  • Recarbonation chemical feed system

With the close of the bond sale, an adjusted customer base charge has gone into effect with the first billing cycle in November 2023.

Residential customers will see a $2 per month base charge increase (from $10 to $12), with commercial customers' rates increasing proportionally based on the customer’s water meter size.

The voter-approved 2018 Water Ballot Initiative allowed Water & Light to sell $43 million in revenue bonds for the purpose of maintaining and upgrading the City’s water infrastructure. Other projects supported by the 2018 Water Bond included water main replacement and relocation, the Southwest water tower, pump station upgrades and well platform improvements.

Water & Light and HDR, a consultant for the City, gave updates to the City Council on Phase 1 of the McBaine Water Treatment Plant improvement project Nov. 28, 2022.

City staff and HDR have developed a phased approach to the construction of the project to address current market conditions.

Water Treatment Plant improvements will meet near-term water-quality goals and capacity needs in addition to establishing long-range water-quality goals informed by treatment costs and benefits and are anticipated to include the following:

  • Restoration of original plant capacity by rehabilitating several treatment processes.
  • Replacement of plant equipment that has reached the end of its useful life, such as aerators, softening basin mechanisms and process instrumentation.
  • Modification of filters to improve filtration performance to meet Groundwater Under the Influence turbidity goals.
  • Addition of recarbonation to the softening process to provide greater control and enhance finished water quality.
  • Automation and controls of the WTP and distribution operations.
  • Rehabilitation of the building to maintain previous investments and provide more efficient operations.

This page will be updated throughout the lifecycle of the upgrade project. Check back for any updates.

Water Treatment Plant comments and QandA

Please leave your comments or questions about the McBaine Water Treatment Plant Improvement Project. City staff will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible.

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  • Share How do these city bonds work? Is this an investment opportunity and if so what is the interest? on Facebook Share How do these city bonds work? Is this an investment opportunity and if so what is the interest? on Twitter Share How do these city bonds work? Is this an investment opportunity and if so what is the interest? on Linkedin Email How do these city bonds work? Is this an investment opportunity and if so what is the interest? link

    How do these city bonds work? Is this an investment opportunity and if so what is the interest?

    RogerWink asked 7 months ago

    The auction sale and results will be posted to http://www.columbiacapitalauction.com.

  • Share Does the project include addressing security issues to the wells and pumps to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure? on Facebook Share Does the project include addressing security issues to the wells and pumps to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure? on Twitter Share Does the project include addressing security issues to the wells and pumps to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure? on Linkedin Email Does the project include addressing security issues to the wells and pumps to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure? link

    Does the project include addressing security issues to the wells and pumps to prevent unauthorized access to critical infrastructure?

    Steven Sapp asked 8 months ago

    That is currently being addressed 

  • Share Where will the bonds be offered for sale? on Facebook Share Where will the bonds be offered for sale? on Twitter Share Where will the bonds be offered for sale? on Linkedin Email Where will the bonds be offered for sale? link

    Where will the bonds be offered for sale?

    Dannynuhi asked 7 months ago

    The auction sale and results will be posted to http://www.columbiacapitalauction.com.

  • Share We need to provide the upgrades needed to this plan to ensure that our water system is up to date and the water quality meets the standards outlined by the COMO Safe Water Coalition. Our current system is not meeting those standards. on Facebook Share We need to provide the upgrades needed to this plan to ensure that our water system is up to date and the water quality meets the standards outlined by the COMO Safe Water Coalition. Our current system is not meeting those standards. on Twitter Share We need to provide the upgrades needed to this plan to ensure that our water system is up to date and the water quality meets the standards outlined by the COMO Safe Water Coalition. Our current system is not meeting those standards. on Linkedin Email We need to provide the upgrades needed to this plan to ensure that our water system is up to date and the water quality meets the standards outlined by the COMO Safe Water Coalition. Our current system is not meeting those standards. link

    We need to provide the upgrades needed to this plan to ensure that our water system is up to date and the water quality meets the standards outlined by the COMO Safe Water Coalition. Our current system is not meeting those standards.

    Srenee.carter58 asked over 1 year ago

     Thank you for your input.

  • Share So this is a side observation to this project since it is already on the table... Columbia should be looking ahead and this is one of those projects that could really shoot this community forward = someone please check out this video from youtube to see what I mean!!! It's about turning waste into energy!!! Seriously, it's a game changer and could make a huge change in pollution AND the cost of utilities in the area! https://youtu.be/p6CF-umWLZg on Facebook Share So this is a side observation to this project since it is already on the table... Columbia should be looking ahead and this is one of those projects that could really shoot this community forward = someone please check out this video from youtube to see what I mean!!! It's about turning waste into energy!!! Seriously, it's a game changer and could make a huge change in pollution AND the cost of utilities in the area! https://youtu.be/p6CF-umWLZg on Twitter Share So this is a side observation to this project since it is already on the table... Columbia should be looking ahead and this is one of those projects that could really shoot this community forward = someone please check out this video from youtube to see what I mean!!! It's about turning waste into energy!!! Seriously, it's a game changer and could make a huge change in pollution AND the cost of utilities in the area! https://youtu.be/p6CF-umWLZg on Linkedin Email So this is a side observation to this project since it is already on the table... Columbia should be looking ahead and this is one of those projects that could really shoot this community forward = someone please check out this video from youtube to see what I mean!!! It's about turning waste into energy!!! Seriously, it's a game changer and could make a huge change in pollution AND the cost of utilities in the area! https://youtu.be/p6CF-umWLZg link

    So this is a side observation to this project since it is already on the table... Columbia should be looking ahead and this is one of those projects that could really shoot this community forward = someone please check out this video from youtube to see what I mean!!! It's about turning waste into energy!!! Seriously, it's a game changer and could make a huge change in pollution AND the cost of utilities in the area! https://youtu.be/p6CF-umWLZg

    kt asked almost 2 years ago

    Very interesting. Thank you for sharing.

Page last updated: 28 Mar 2024, 09:10 AM