Wayland wastewater commission absorbs $55,000 membrane repair without breaching budget

WAYLAND -- January 10, 2024, Wayland Wastewater Management District absorbs a $55,000 holiday-week membrane repair without breaking its budget. Operations Manager Jared Cotton told commissioners Jan. 10 that high transmembrane pressure on basin one forced a two-day emergency cleaning involving Kubota, RH White, Whitewater, Tighe & Bond and hauler Regan; crews also found a stuck actuator valve, a loose anoxic mixer rail and an isolation gate valve that would not seat. Confirmed invoices include $15,000 to Regan, $3,000 to Wind River and $2,000 to Whitewater, with RH White's two-day bill still outstanding against a $7,000 one-day quote. Wastewater Administrator Sarah Pawluczonek said the district is still tracking to a roughly $54,000 surplus at the fiscal year's halfway point, aided by a $55,000 Town Center privilege fee and liened balances cut to $7,130. "The membranes themselves have been holding up," Tighe & Bond engineer Abby said, with no tears observed; tank two will be cleaned the first week of February. Chair Michael Gitten said the episode showed the plant's "vulnerabilities" as commissioners weigh added flow from MBTA-zoning build-out.