The plant, which actually went online in July, is processing 2.5
million gallons of waste out of a maximum of 5 million gallons a
day.
HOLLISTER
More than six years after a sewer spill that led to its construction, Hollister’s new wastewater treatment plant at 1:30 p.m. today will have its official grand opening as the city is now one step closer to a ending the building moratorium.
The $35 million plant had been under construction since December 2006 and became operational in late July, but the grand opening had been scheduled for October so that other work on the old facility could be done. That other work includes final stages of abandonment and decommissioning of the old plant, said City Engineer Steve Wittry. The city also had needed to finish paving at the new plant.
Currently, the plant is processing 2.5 million gallons of waste out of a maximum of 5 million gallons a day, Wittry said.
Until the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board lifts the moratorium on Dec. 5, no new buildings can use the plant. When the moratorium is lifted, Mayor Doug Emerson doesn’t forecast there will be a mad rush for people wanting to hook into the new system, although he said that the city has been issuing building permits since June.
Although there aren’t many houses being built in the current economy, Wittry said there has been interest in other areas.
“We are seeing a lot more questions coming in on the commercial side and industrial side.”
Even with the state of the economy, Emerson projects the regional board to give the moratorium lifting a “green light” and he added that all paperwork has been filled out.
For those interested in visiting the Dec. 5 meeting of the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, it will be held at the Central Coast Water Board Offices in San Luis Obispo at 895 Aerovista Place, Suite 101.
Timeline of events:
May 2002: 15 million gallons of treated sewage spills into the San Benito River bed
September 2002: State water board enacts building moratorium, fines city
December 2006: New plant’s construction begins
July 2008: New plant goes operational
