Water plant expansion completion delayed until October

WEIRTON -- The Weirton Area Water Board will have to wait several more months before the expansion of the city's water treatment plant is complete.

During Thursday's meeting, board members approved two change orders for the project, extending the date of substantial completion from June 20 to Oct. 15 and moving the date for final payment from July 20 to Nov. 16.

"There's no change to the contract price as far as this change order," explained Jesse Alden, project manager with the Thrasher Group.

Alden said the $40,610,446.96 contract with Triton Construction to expand the plant's treatment capacity from 4 million gallons of water per day to 8 million gallons per day was 90.7% complete as of Thursday. Just under $400,000 remains from the original $1.5 million contingency fund.

Officials had warned in June of the possibility of a schedule change because some equipment had not yet arrived. Alden previously explained that one subcontractor went out of business, requiring the project team to find a new company to supply equipment, including a series of new air strippers.

Chuck Kelly, also with Thrasher, said the air strippers are expected to arrive in Weirton in late July or early August. He said he had received photos showing the equipment currently is in New York.

"They exist," he said. "They are on their way."

A second change order approved Thursday authorized the purchase of two 6-inch, 300 PSI oil cushion swing check valves for the Marland Heights high-pressure pump station at a cost of $21,402.69. The purchase will be paid for using contingency funds.

The expansion project required a two-tiered rate increase to help cover costs. Ward 6 Councilman Anthony Rocchio questioned the timing of the second increase, saying he had understood it would not take effect until closer to the project's completion.

"I have people questioning about the water rate increase," Rocchio said.

Ward 5 Councilwoman Brittany Holloway expressed similar concerns and asked whether the increase could be delayed because the completion date had been pushed back.

Utilities Director A.D. "Butch" Mastrantoni explained the Water Board had contracted with the law firm of Kay, Casto and Chaney, which has served as bond counsel for this and other Water Board projects, to assist with implementing the rate increase timeline.

Mastrantoni said regulations allowed the increase to begin either within the timeframe related to substantial completion of the project or four months before the Water Board began paying down debt service on the bonds used to finance the project.

The second tier of the rate increase took effect in the spring, though officials noted the Water Board began making bond payments last fall.

"We even went as far as to issue a public notice," Mastrantoni said, explaining the change in the project completion date would not affect rates. "The bond investors expect payment. They don't expect excuses."

Construction on the water treatment plant expansion began in August 2024 following more than seven years of planning.

Funding for the project includes $22.47 million in Congressionally Directed Spending, a $14.7 million loan from the West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, a $5.6 million match from the West Virginia Governor's Office, $1 million from the West Virginia Water Development Authority, $200,000 from Weirton Council, $165,000 from the IJDC Overrun Program and $100,000 from the Water Board.