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TWSA hears plan to quiet Cashiers sewer plant

By Rose Hooper

Replacing the current blowers at the Cashiers sewer treatment plant with centrifugal blowers would not only reduce the noise level, but pay for itself in the long run, Randy Beckner, engineer with Mattern and Craig, told the Tuckaseigee Water and Sewer Authority board of directors recently.

Those who live near the plant on Zeb Alley Road, including Maddy Buckhanan, have on several occasions voiced concerns to the TWSA board about the noise and smell from the plant.

"The noise level is unbearable, at times registering 60 decibels on my deck and 80 decibels at the plant," Buckhanan repeated during frequent visits to TWSA board meetings.

The noise level was noticeable when board members visited the plant in July, said TWSA member Chuck Wooten. At that time the board requested an engineer provide recommendations on how to control it.

In his recommendation earlier this month, Beckner suggested that since the plant has to be expanded anyway, the proposed blower package of four PD blowers (two existing, two new) be replaced by two centrifugal blowers in a block building.

"One of the problems now at the plant is that an additional clarifier is needed because there is not enough oxygen during peak flow," Beckner said.

Centrifugal blowers would increase the oxygen level, he said, which would also help to reduce the smell.

According to Beckner, centrifugal blowers are about 10 decibels quieter than PD blowers. Although the initial cost is expensive - about $70,450 - operational costs would be reduced with greater efficiency in design.

"You could realize a power savings of $10,000 per year," Beckner told the board. "In seven years, the blowers would pay for themselves."

TWSA Executive Director Jerry King reported the plant's clarifiers must be replaced to meet code, even if the plant isn't expanded. The cost for upgrading, he estimated, would run $350,000 to $400,000.

When bids for the plant expansion were received in July, RPB Systems Inc. of Asheville at $1,024,000 was the apparent low bidder. King, who had anticipated bids around $800,000, said funds were not available for the entire expansion.

Beckner said after speaking with the potential contractor, the cost could possibly be reduced by $76,000.

When Wooten discovered that the contract offer, which ends Oct. 19, was not on the board's Oct. 15 agenda, he proposed - and the board agreed - to ask the contractor for a 30-day extension.

The board set a workshop for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, to reach some decisions on the 16-year-old Cashiers plant.

Back to Archive: 10/24/02.