2020-21 Clean Water Projects

Clean Water Resiliency Plan

Water quality and rate affordability guide every decision we make. In 2018 voters approved the Clean Water Resiliency Plan - a comprehensive investment to upgrade and modernize our wastewater and stormwater infrastructure. In 2020 construction projects have started for some of the critical infrastructure improvements planned at our wastewater treatment plants (wwtp).  Sewer and stormwater collection system improvements started construction in 2021.  The ongoing response to COVID-19 has caused some project delays. The projects are wholly or partially funded through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The State Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program adminsters the loans - allowing us to keep interest rates affordable. 

With upgrades to the WWTPs and proactive rehabilitation of miles of sewer and storm lines, we will reduce the risk of unpermitted discharges to area waters, and ensure we continue to safely convey stormwater and wastewater from our city to the plants. Every generation of Burlingtonians has made an investment to protect Lake Champlain and this work continues that strong tradition.

Projects included in the CWSRF scope of work that are completed, in construction, or close to construction include:

• SCADA/PLC Upgrade at Main WWTP (completed) includes work to replace the entire Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) at the Main Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP).  Burlington’s Main WWTPs SCADA and PLC control system provide the systematic oversight and control of the entire plant’s operations. While we have updated portions of the SCADA system since the Main WWTP upgrade in 1994, the PLC is original to the upgrade 25 years ago remains in service.  Construction and implementation of these upgrades started in 2020 and was complete in spring of 2021.

• Disinfection Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements (completed): includes work to replace critical disinfection equipment.  Each of Burlington’s WWTPs has a disinfection system that provides chemical treatment to ensure bacteria levels in the plant’s effluent remain low. While we have replaced significant portions disinfection equipment since the Main WWTP upgrade in 1994, critical pieces of equipment that are original to the upgrade 25 years ago remain in service. In 2018, two of the three WWTPs (Main and North Plants) experienced three different failure incidents in their disinfection systems.  Construction and implementation of these upgrades started in 2020 and was completed in spring of 2021.

• Remote Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements (underway): work includes upgrading the Flynn and Fletcher Pump Stations.  These are two of the highest priority pump stations to upgrade out of our twenty-five existing wastewater pump stations throughout the City’s network.  Most of the current pump stations in the City’s network are 50 years or older and recent failures have resulted in emergency repairs.  The Flynn Pump Station construction work was completed in the summer of 2021 and the Fletcher Pump Station construction work is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2021.

• Collection System Improvements (underway): The joint project is called the 2020 Distribution and Collection System Improvements project.  The work includes: Relining of up to 5,600 feet of water mains, installation of up to 2,000 feet of a new water mains, relining of up to 45,000 linear feet of sewer and stormwater mains, replacement of up to 2,500 feet of sewer and stormwater mains.  The construction contract will also include full width paving restoration on streets that are coincident with the capital paving program.  The intent of the bundled construction project is to ensure the contractor is responsible for coordinating different work types across different project locations in the City Right of Way.  The construction contract started in late summer of 2021 and is scheduled to finish in fall of 2022.