Apr. 23--EAST PROVIDENCE -- The city recently took another step toward making critical capital improvements to its wastewater treatment plant.

The plant, on Crest Avenue in Riverside, was built in 1954 and had its last major upgrade in the 1970s. Although state-of-the-art then, it does not meet the current standards of the state Department of Environmental Management.

The biggest project is a biological nutrient-removal upgrade to reduce the amount of nitrate released into Narragansett Bay that contributes to the death of fish and other marine life. Other capital improvements include covering the initial sewer treatment process area to control odor; computerizing the entire treatment process; improving the digestion and sludge storage areas; and replacing the Watchemoket Cove pump station to help reduce stormwater overflow.

To upgrade the plant by the DEM's 2012 deadline and give it the capacity to handle the waste of a potential full buildup of the city's waterfront, consultants said, will cost $70 million. Barrington has its waste purified at the facility, so that town will pay 20 percent of the costs. The rest is East Providence's responsibility and city officials hope to get a low-interest loan to pay its portion.

The City Council approved a more than 300-page request for proposals Tuesday night. City officials and their consultants will send the material to companies it believes could handle the job and will give them until July 14 to submit a bid.

The company, or a team of firms working together, will vie to design, build and operate the sewage plant for the city. As the owner, the city will retain control over setting the sewer rates.

The companies will submit two major figures in their bids -- an amount to complete the renovations and an annual service fee for operating the plant. City officials plan to evaluate the proposals in the fall and approve a contract in December.

Nearly all of the council members emphasized their concerns about raising sewer rates. They said they will not approve a price tag that the city and its taxpayers can't afford, and hope the bids come in well under $70 million, given the demand for work in the current economy.

-----

To see more of the The Providence Journal, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.projo.com.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Providence Journal, R.I.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A service of YellowBrix, Inc.