A federal judge has agreed to two major changes to Akron’s massive sewer project, moves that will save the city about $30 million, Mayor Dan Horrigan said Wednesday.
The city will no longer be required to build a new pipe parallel to an existing one in the Merriman Valley and will increase the amount of wastewater initially treated at its plant to 220 million gallons per day, up from 130 gallons.
U.S. District Judge John Adams signed off on the changes this week in a 29-page amendment to the original consent decree. The city had requested the adjustments earlier this year.
“These gains mark a critical first step in bringing down costs for ratepayers,” Horrigan said at a news conference along Riverview Road with the massive sewer pipe serving as a backdrop.
The changes had the support from the U.S. Justice Department, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Attorney General and the Ohio EPA.
The overall sewer project, estimated to cost more than $1 billion, is designed to curb sewage overflows into local waterways.
Horrigan noted that the city has been able to trim $57 million in costs this year.
“Since taking office, I committed to work collaboratively with state and federal agencies in an effort to bring down the total cost of our combined sewer project while remaining true to our environmental responsibilities,” he said.
Horrigan said he would continue to negotiate for other ways to reduce the project cost.
The mayor couldn’t say how the savings would be passed along to sewer and water customers. But he said the savings means the city will borrow less for the project.
City officials said the overall project is on schedule. Riverview Road also is expected to reopen to traffic before the end of the year, they said.
Dan Rice, president and chief executive officer of the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, celebrated the news because the parallel pipe would have impacted a portion of the Towpath Trail.
He also praised the collaborative approach to the project.
“When people are looking for a model across the country now, they are going to look to Akron because we are truly a model community for collaboration and partnerships,” Rice said.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.