Columbus authorizes $30.4M for chemicals and advances Jackson Pike digester upgrades

Columbus authorizes $30.4M for chemicals and advances Jackson Pike digester upgradesThe City Council secured the supply chain for potable water treatment while advancing over $22 million in capital improvements for wastewater facilities and green infrastructure.

Council approved a $30.4 million expenditure for water treatment chemicals as an emergency measure to prevent supply delays.

Jacobs Engineering Group secured an $11.45 million contract increase for digester improvements at the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Danbert, Inc. was awarded an $8.18 million contract for the Blueprint Miller Kelton Newton Bedford permeable pavement and water line project.

Modifications totaling roughly $3 million were approved for Arcadis and Hatch Associates Consultants for upgrades at the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant.

The Columbus City Council moved forward with a robust slate of water and wastewater infrastructure investments and operational expenditures during its January 26, 2026, meeting. The largest single expenditure approved was a $30,400,000 authorization for the purchase of water treatment chemicals from the Water Operating Fund. Council Member Wyche, Chair of the Public Utilities and Sustainability Committee, noted that the ordinance was designated as an emergency measure "in order to avoid any delay in purchasing of necessary chemicals and to allow the division of water to continue to provide safe and reliable drinking water." This operational outlay was accompanied by a separate $4.47 million authorization for sewer treatment chemicals. On the capital side, the Council approved significant contract modifications for the city's wastewater treatment facilities, contingent upon loan approvals from the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA). The Director of the Department of Public Utilities was authorized to modify and increase a contract with Jacobs Engineering Group by $11,446,186 for the Jackson Pike Wastewater Treatment Plant (JPWRP) Digester Improvements project. Jacobs has an established history with major Columbus utility projects, most notably delivering the $285 million expansion of the Dublin Road Water Plant in 2018, which installed the nation's largest nitrate removal ion exchange facility. Funding for this current increase will be appropriated within the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund. Further upgrades were approved for the Southerly Water Reclamation Plant. The Council authorized a professional engineering services contract modification with Arcadis U.S. Inc. for $1,415,543 to support variable frequency drives and harmonic filter upgrades. Additionally, Hatch Associates Consultants, Inc. received a contract modification of up to $1,596,426 for power system upgrades and safety improvements at the same facility. The city also advanced its green infrastructure initiatives under the "Blueprint" program. A construction contract was authorized with Danbert, Inc. for $8,176,756 to execute the Blueprint Miller Kelton Newton Bedford Permeable Pavement and Newton Bedford Water Line Improvements projects. Associated construction administration services were awarded to Resource International via a contract modification of $1.22 million. Other notable approvals included a $1.99 million contract increase for Ascension Construction Solutions, LLC for professional construction management services at wastewater treatment facilities, and a $2.2 million modification with Bermex, Inc. for water meter reading services.