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Politics & Government

City Cuts Ribbon on New Water Treatment Offices

Millbrae's new Water Treatment Operations Center, the first part of a $30 million renovation project, officially went online June 30.

A ribbon cutting marked the June 30 completion of Millbrae’s new Water Treatment Operations Center, the first stage of a $30 million project—the largest project undertaken in the city’s history.

The operations center provides offices for the city’s public works plant staff, which had previously been working out of haphazardly organized facilities. The overall renovation project will also include a new flow equalization plant as well as refurbishment of old equipment, facilities and machinery.

“After 50 years of service, many of the parts were breaking down. In fact, many of the companies that made the parts here are no longer in business,” said Mayor Daniel Quigg to the assembled crowd. “Our new plant is built to last 100 years.”

The plant staff, which were able to move into the new operations center in late May, had been working out of trailers since 1991, and were working out of “sheds” for at least three years prior to that, said Senior Office Assistant Linda Harrington.

“We’re very excited to see this come to fruition. I didn’t think it would before I retired,” she said.

The next stage of the project, a 1.2 million gallon flow equalization plant, is also expected to be complete soon.

“The headworks are nearing completion, within the next month or so,” said City Engineer Khee Lim, adding that testing of the pumps and inflow piping is planned for the Fourth of July weekend.

The flow equalization tank will also allow the plant to retain extra water during storms, as well as allowing it to retain water so that the plant can be taken offline for maintenance without risking sewer overflows.

The renovation project was required in order for the city to meet it’s obligations under its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, and has been funded by rate payers who agreed to rate increases—and a low interest, 1 percent loan available under federal stimulus programs through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The renovation project is expected to allow the city to meet the requirements of the national pollution discharge permit at least until 2060, said Quigg.

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