Cheat Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant and White Run Pump Station Upgrades

Introduction

This webpage serves as a resource in support of the Cheat Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade. Information on this page will be updated as the project moves forward.

Background

The Morgantown Utility Board is planning a major upgrade to its Cheat Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and to the Whites Run Pump Station. MUB took ownership and operational responsibility for the Cheat Lake WWTP in the late 1990s. In 2001, the Cheat Lake WWTP underwent a major expansion and the Whites Run Pump Station was constructed. The plant currently serves nearly 3,000 customers in the Cheat Lake area. The Cheat Lake WWTP sanitary sewer collection system, owned and maintained by MUB, is independent of the MUB-owned-and-operated Star City WWTP system.

The purpose of the project is to increase capacity of the Cheat Lake WWTP and the Whites Run Pump Station to serve customers over the next 20 years. This project will facilitate future growth and development while meeting the requirements of federal and state regulations related to water quality in the receiving water body of Cheat Lake. Currently, the plant's capacity is occasionally surpassed during large rain events when flows exceed the plant’s design. What's more, the Cheat Lake WWTP and Whites Run Pump Station equipment and facilities are approaching the end of their service life. To maintain compliance with our NPDES permit limits while serving future development, upgrades are required.

Project Description

This project will provide significant upgrades to the Cheat Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant and Whites Run Pump Station. This includes expansion to the south of the existing plant onto land purchased by MUB for this purpose in 2018.

In addition to increasing capacity, improvements and renovations to the plant and pump station during the upgrade include pumping systems, preliminary treatment, biological activated sludge, disinfection, effluent outfall, biosolids management, odor control, stormwater collection, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), electrical distribution system, emergency standby power, lighting, security systems, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), and site utility work.

Benefits

This project involves installation of UV disinfectant that will provide state-of-the-art treatment processes, odor control to improve air quality adjacent the facility, standby power to support plant operations in the event of a power outage, and treatment system resiliency to meet permit limits and protect the receiving body of Cheat Lake. In addition, we will also restore 920+ feet of stream channel (Kelly Run).

Specifically, the project will increase the treatment capacity of the plant from the current 0.75 million gallons per day (mgd) to 1.75 mgd and the Whites Run Pump Station capacity from 1.98 mgd to 4.1 mgd. This is designed to meet the estimated growth needs of the area for the next 20 years while making the plant more readily expandable to meet further future growth.

Project Status

Strand Associates is waiting to receive final comments from the West Virignia Department of Environmental Protection as well as other permits. When received, final design of the project will be complete.

Estimated Rate Adjustments

Total construction cost of the project is currently estimated at $39,695,529. MUB has obtained a commitment from the West Virginia Water Development Authority for an Economic Enhancement Grant in the amount of $6,750,000 and has been granted $500,000 of debt forgiveness through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Construction must commence before December 31, 2024, or the $6,750,000 grant fund will be forfeited.

In addition, the DEP’s State Revolving Fund has agreed to loan MUB approximately $30,000,000 over a period of thirty (30) years at two percent (2%) interest. To fund this project, a rate increase will be necessary. It is estimated that the average monthly bill for a user of 3,400 gallons of water will be $67.97 following the rate increase. Of course, the rate is subject to change in the event the low bid for the project exceeds the estimated project cost.

Public Participation

On Tuesday, March 14, 2023, MUB's Board of Directors held their monthly meeting at The Cranberry Hotel in Cheat Lake. During this meeting, design phase information was presented by Strand Associates to the board of directors and the public for the first time. Public input was taken and received at the meeting. A copy of the presentation given by Strand Associates at the board of directors meeting is available here via Dropbox. A video of the meeting can be found here via YouTube.

MUB's Board of Directors was held a meeting July 9, 2024, at Lakeview Golf Resort. The below information is available from this meeting...

MUB monthly Board of Directors meetings are open to the public and conducted in strict accordance with West Virginia State Code, including advance public notice of the time and place. The meeting agendas are provided to the local newspaper, posted on the MUB Web site, and shared on the website for the City of Morgantown. You can follow MUB on Facebook and on Twitter for agenda postings. Public comment is solicited at every monthly meeting. You can also send comments to MUB via mail or online or by email to mubmail@mub.org.

Project Information

Project Manager

Rich Rogers
Chief Engineer
(304) 292-8443

Project Engineer

Strand Associates

Construction Timeline
  • Advertisement for Bids
    August 15, 2024
  • Bid Openings
    September 26, 2024
  • Closing on Loan
    December 18, 2024
  • Notice to Proceed for Construction
    December 18, 2024
  • Substantial Completion of Construction
    March 2027
  • Final Completion of Construction
    June 2027
  • Construction Cost Estimate
    $39,695,529