Leavenworth approves $100k emergency grit pump replacement ahead of sewer rate review

Leavenworth approves $100k emergency grit pump replacement ahead of sewer rate reviewThe Kansas utility authorized the immediate purchase of two Hayward Gordon pumps for its wastewater treatment facility to prevent imminent failure and protect downstream infrastructure from abrasive wear.

The board unanimously approved $100,758 plus freight to purchase two Hayward Gordon CHOP X4A pumps from CMB Equipment.

The existing pumps, installed in 2007, handle harsh, abrasive materials and have reached the end of their 19-year service life.

Staff warned that failure to replace the pumps would allow grit and sand to pass through the system, threatening downstream plant infrastructure.

The expense will be covered by emergency reserves in the wastewater treatment budget and will factor into upcoming sewer rate discussions later this year.

The Leavenworth Board has unanimously approved the purchase of two new grit pumps for the city's wastewater treatment facility, acting to prevent the potential failure of critical headworks equipment. During the May 26, 2026 meeting, utility staff presented the urgent need to replace the two pumps currently installed in the grit handling system. The existing units have been in continuous service since 2007, operating in an extremely harsh environment characterized by abrasive materials such as sand, grit, gravel, and other solids. Following an inspection by CMB Equipment, the west pump was found to have extensive wear and damage, making a total replacement more cost-effective than reconstruction. The east pump was determined to be in similarly poor condition. While staff performed temporary repairs to keep the east pump operational, they warned the board that the unit could fail at any time. "This purchase is necessary to protect our downstream equipment and infrastructure from excessive wear," a staff member told the board. "If we don't capture the grit at this location, it goes through our system, through our pumps, everything else at the plant." The board authorized the purchase of two Hayward Gordon CHOP X4A pumps from CMB Equipment for $100,758, plus an estimated $3,000 in freight charges. The expenditure will be funded through emergency reserves within the wastewater treatment plant budget. The emergency capital outlay is expected to influence future revenue requirements. Staff explicitly noted to the commission that the deteriorating condition of the 19-year-old plant infrastructure and the resulting emergency replacement costs will be a key talking point when the board takes up discussions on sewer rates later this year.