Wastewater treatment plant upgrades considered in Huntington – WSAZ

Report on the Huntington Wastewater Treatment Plant Renovation Project

Project Overview and Strategic Importance

The City of Huntington, West Virginia, is advancing a critical infrastructure project to renovate its public wastewater treatment plant. The initiative, which recently passed a second reading by the City Council, addresses the urgent need to upgrade the city’s aging public sewer system. The current facility processes approximately 13 million gallons of wastewater daily but suffers from significant structural deficiencies, including large cracks and original, obsolete equipment for which replacement parts are no longer manufactured. This renovation is essential for ensuring the long-term environmental health and resilience of the community.

Alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The project strongly aligns with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, positioning Huntington as a community committed to global sustainability standards.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core objective is to improve wastewater management, directly contributing to Target 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution and halving the proportion of untreated wastewater. This ensures the protection of local water ecosystems.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: By upgrading a vital piece of public infrastructure, the project supports Target 9.1, which calls for developing quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure to support economic development and human well-being.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The renovation enhances urban resilience by improving the sewer system’s capacity to manage heavy rainfall, reducing standing water and flood risk. This directly supports Target 11.5, which focuses on reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to water and waste management.

Project Status and Key Stakeholders

The legislative and implementation process is proceeding as scheduled.

1. Legislative Approval: The Huntington City Council has approved the second reading of the project ordinance.
2. Final Reading: The third and final reading is scheduled for the council meeting on August 11.
3. Contractor Selection: Triton Construction has been approved as the primary contractor for the renovation.
4. Projected Timeline: Officials anticipate that construction will commence early in the upcoming year.

The project is being guided by the Water Quality Board, with Executive Director Brian Bracey providing key oversight.

Expected Outcomes and Long-Term Impact

The successful completion of this project will yield significant, long-lasting benefits for the city and its residents, contributing to a more sustainable and resilient future.

• Extended Lifespan: The upgrades are designed to extend the operational life of the wastewater treatment plant for an additional 50 years, exceeding the typical 30-to-50-year lifespan of such facilities.
• Enhanced Resilience: The improved system will better manage stormwater, mitigating the effects of heavy rainfall and reducing localized flooding.
• Fiscal Responsibility: A major achievement of the project is that the comprehensive upgrades will be implemented without necessitating a utility rate increase for customers, ensuring affordability and equitable access to essential services in line with SDG principles.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article’s primary focus is on the renovation of a wastewater treatment plant and the improvement of the public sewer system in Huntington. This directly relates to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• The project involves upgrading critical public infrastructure—the wastewater treatment plant. The article highlights the need to replace old equipment and address structural issues, which aligns with the goal of building resilient, sustainable, and reliable infrastructure.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• By upgrading the wastewater system, the city of Huntington is improving basic services for its residents. The project also aims to mitigate local environmental hazards, such as “standing water during heavy rainfall,” contributing to making the city safer, more resilient, and sustainable.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally. The article discusses upgrading a wastewater treatment plant with “large structural cracks” and “original equipment,” implying the current treatment is suboptimal. The renovation project is a direct action to improve the treatment of the “13 million gallons of wastewater daily,” thereby improving water quality.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. The project aims to create a resilient plant with a lifespan of “50 years.” The statement that the project “will not require a rate increase for customers” directly addresses the aspect of affordability and equitable access to this essential service.

3. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce… the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses… caused by disasters, including water-related disasters. The article explicitly states that “The upgrades will help reduce standing water during heavy rainfall,” which is a measure to mitigate the effects of local, water-related events like urban flooding.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 6.3:

   • Indicator (Implied): Proportion of wastewater safely treated. The article provides a baseline volume of “13 million gallons of wastewater daily” that the plant handles. The success of the renovation can be measured by the improved quality and efficiency of treating this volume, thus increasing the proportion of wastewater that is safely treated before discharge.

2. For Target 9.1:

   • Indicator (Mentioned): The planned lifespan of the infrastructure. The executive director states, “we feel very comfortable with the work that we’re doing to have for the next 50 years for our wastewater treatment plant.” This 50-year lifespan serves as a direct indicator of the infrastructure’s planned sustainability and resilience.
   • Indicator (Mentioned): Affordability of services. The article notes that the project “will not require a rate increase for customers,” which is a clear indicator of maintaining affordable access to the service.

3. For Target 11.5:

   • Indicator (Mentioned): Reduction in local flooding. The statement that the upgrades “will help reduce standing water during heavy rainfall” serves as a qualitative indicator of progress in mitigating the impact of water-related hazards. Progress could be measured by observing a decrease in the frequency and extent of such events post-renovation.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wsaz.com