Aberdeen seeks $40.5m funding route for WRF Phase 2

Aberdeen seeks $40.5m funding route for WRF Phase 2Aberdeen City Council considered authorising a State Water Plan application for a $40.539 million Water Reclamation Facility Phase 2 project. The scheme would expand biosolids handling and treatment capacity while replacing or remodelling the facility’s administration building.

The State Water Plan application lists total projected state funding of $40.539 million for the Water Reclamation Facility Phase 2 project.

The project scope includes biosolids stabilisation, biosolids dewatering, and replacement or remodelling of the current WRF administration building.

The probable construction cost is $34.329 million, with design, bidding and construction services estimated at $5.493 million.

Aberdeen’s proposed 2027-31 capital improvement plan includes $36 million in 2028 for the CIP projects, while its water-sewer rate study budgeted $28 million for Phase 2 financing.

Aberdeen, South Dakota, is seeking to place a $40.539 million second-phase upgrade of its Water Reclamation Facility on the State Water Facilities Plan, opening a route for consideration for state or federal funding. The City Council’s September 28 agenda included authorisation for the City Manager to sign the State Water Plan application for the Water Reclamation Facility Phase 2 Improvements Project and administrative building replacement. The application identifies $40.539 million of projected state funding. The proposed works are intended to address increased biosolids handling and treatment capacity, as well as ageing infrastructure at the facility. Scope listed in the application comprises biosolids stabilisation, biosolids dewatering, and replacement or remodelling of the current WRF administration building. The project’s opinion of probable cost places construction at $34.329 million. This includes a $20.473 million biosolids-stabilisation package, $4.602 million for biosolids dewatering, and $5.2 million for a 6,500 sq ft administration-building replacement or remodel. Design, bidding and construction services are estimated at $5.493 million, while geotechnical services and administration and legal costs are budgeted at $30,000 and $687,000 respectively. The city said its proposed 2027-31 capital-improvement plan includes $36 million in 2028 for the CIP projects. Its water-sewer rate study had budgeted $28 million financed at 3.75% over 20 years for Phase 2, but did not include the administration building. City staff described the $40.54 million estimate as conservative and budgetary, including contingencies and escalation from current prices to 2028 costs. Phase 2 is estimated to go to tender in late 2027. Staff also noted that the engineering figure does not yet account for savings associated with design of the digester and dewatering facilities; that figure is expected to reduce once design decisions are final. Current wastewater rates are $41.50 per 5,000 gallons for domestic and commercial-industrial customers, according to the State Water Plan application.