In a short meeting
of the Chesterton Utility Service Board on Monday night, Superintendent Dave
Ryan reported that the Utility could conceivably take delivery of the new
camera truck before the board’s next meeting, on May 20.
Ryan said that he’s
currently arranging to have computer software delivered to the truck’s
manufacturer.
The Utility ordered
the truck in October, from Eco Infrastructure Solutions of Whitestown, Ind.,
at a cost of $190,943.60.
The current camera
truck--as President Larry Brandt told the Town Council at its last meeting,
before members voted to schedule a public hearing on Monday, May 22, on a
proposed sewer rate increase--is some 30 years old and has become
mechanically unreliable. It’s a vital piece of equipment, however, as the
truck allows the collections crew to identify and pinpoint emerging problems
and line failures.
Reports
In other business,
Ryan reported that work continues on the application for the renewal of the
Utility’s five-year National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permit from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
The NPDES permit
governs and sanctions the operations of the town’s wastewater treatment
plant.
Ryan said that the
Utility will easily make the May 1 deadline to submit the application to
IDEM.
Ryan also reported
that the treatment plant’s UV disinfection system was prepared and tested
and officially put on line by the required April 1 starting date.
March in Review
In March,
Chesterton used 53.68 percent of its 3,668,000 gallon per day (gpd)
allotment of the wastewater treatment plant; Porter, 60.12 percent of its
851,000 gpd allotment; the Indian Boundary Conservancy District, 71.94
percent of its 81,000 gpd allotment; and the plant as a whole, 53.68 percent
of its capacity.
There were no
bypasses of wastewater into the Little Calumet River last month, which saw
3.10 inches of precipitation recorded at the plant.
In March the
Utility ran a surplus of $238,623.12 and in the year-to-date is running a
surplus of $465,571.06.