Rhode Island city picks contractor for wastewater plant

March 5 – The city of East Providence, R.I., has chosen United Water to design, build and operate the city’s wastewater treatment plant while conducting $52.5 million in upgrades to make the plant compliant with current regulations.

As part of the agreement with the city, United Water will manage plant operations and improvements, which will bring the plant into compliance by Sept. 2012. In addition to the renovations at the plant, United Water is scheduled to build a new pump station at Watchemoket Cove and a wastewater pipeline by August 2013.

The operation contract is for 10 years. The plant serves about 67% of the city’s 50,000 residents. The company already operates the Bucklin Point Wastewater Treatment Facility, which serves about one-third of East Providence, for the Narragansett Bay Commission.

Contact Waste & Recycling News reporter Amanda Smith-Teutsch at 330-865-6166 or asmith-teutsch@crain.com