PORT ARTHUR, Texas — The Port Arthur Wastewater Treatment Plant is being rebuilt in a $64 million overhaul.
Two weeks ago, the plant had an explosion that caused 2.5 million gallons of wastewater to spill. The cause of the explosion were two failing pumps.
Officials say that this rebuilding can't come quickly enough. They tell 12News that in 10 years, the plant wouldn't be operational.
"We've done some major maintenance, but a lot of the parts aren't available," said City of Port Arthur's Director of Water Utilities Calvin Matthews.
The plant is starting to deteriorate, with old tanks and pumps struggling to keep up.
"There's a lot of bypass pumping that take units out, so we can keep other units running," said Matthews.
Matthews says every piece of machinery processing wastewater needs to be in good shape.
"We'll start the rebuild on the trickling filters, and also they're building the pump station that will replace the screw pumps," said Matthews.
These are the same pumps that failed two weeks ago and six months before that.
"The aging of the plant is definitely the problem with the spill. I mean those pumps are way beyond their useful life. There was a motor shorted out, and a starter shorted, and when that happens, the flows keeps coming into the main lift station," said Matthews.
The plant will be using a standby diesel pump until until they finish installing a permanent standby pump.
Pre COVID prices estimated that it was $20 million cheaper to renovate the plant than to build a new one from scratch according to Matthews.
While Matthews focused on getting the pumps running, others focused on environmental impacts.
"As of today there is still no environmental impacts reserved. One of the primary things we would look for is dead fish," said City of Port Arthur Utilities Compliance Manager Floyd Riley.
He believes that the new renovations will make his job easier.
"The upgrades should eliminate these types of spills from happening," said Riley.
Riley says he tested the Jefferson County Drainage District 7 canal's for normal levels of dissolved oxygen concentration in early July. Normal levels are two and above and the canal's levels are currently at a six.
Matthews tells 12News that the renovations are expected to be completed by 2027.
The renovations are being paid for through city residents water and sewer bills, as well as industry water bills and treated process water.