Bridgeport details wastewater upgrades, $3.4M headworks and lift station rebuilds

Bridgeport — At its June 8 meeting Bridgeport public utilities staff outlined recent and planned wastewater and water system investments, including a new enclosed headworks building, lift station rebuilds and an expanding smart-hydrant program.

Jared, speaking for public utilities, said the new headworks building moved the treatment intake away from the interstate, enclosed operations and added odor-control units. "Total cost was 3.4 million," he reported, and said the project substantially improved the treatment process when it reached substantial completion in 2025.

Jared also reported a complete rebuild of lift station 6 (contracted to Green River Group, reported cost about $1.2 million) and a renovation of the original wastewater-plant garage and new office space by Lee Rigger Builds costing $479,000. He said these projects are part of a long-term control plan to maximize flow to the plant and to size a future storm-surge tank.

Utilities staff described operational improvements: the system now has 19 wastewater certifications across eight operators, annual hydrant flushing with two-year testing cycles, and deployment of five smart hydrants that send alerts when pressure deviates. Jared said the city plans to add five more smart hydrants this year and to target key routes including Route 50 and Main Street.

On ongoing projects Jared said the James Street sewer project—awarded to Thrasher under an MSA—is several months behind schedule after coordination with the Board of Education; bidding is expected late summer or early fall. RK is at 90% design for lift station 1, with an added roughly 1,600 linear feet of 6-inch force main as part of that scope.

Staff requested no formal council action on the utilities report; the session provided an operational update and identified near-term capital timelines and follow-ups for coordination with state and local partners.