ASHLAND — Ashland’s wastewater treatment plant received the green light to make a hefty purchase for a new truck.
Ashland City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the purchase of a $518,000 truck designed to clean sewer lines.
The new Aquatech B10 Combination Jet/Vac truck will effectively replace the current 2010 truck of the same brand that has cost the city a total of $52,000 in repairs over the last six years.
The new truck will also help Ashland complete its obligation to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to prevent sewage overflow into Lang Creek when it rains too hard.
City council hired a firm in September to design the construction of a new equalization tank at the facility. Officials estimate that project will cost around $14 million.
Part of the city’s agreement with the EPA includes cleaning pipes that have become clogged over the years. Officials believe the truck that is currently performing that task “can’t handle it.”
“It’s been in the shop a variety of times already,” said Ashland Mayor Matt Miller.
The city’s director of utilities, Mike Hunter, said Ashland’s wastewater treatment plant will likely keep the existing truck to use for backup, in case the new one goes in for repairs and vice versa.
Hunter said repairs for the truck usually means a two- or three-week pause on its use.
Officials estimated the new truck won’t be delivered until December. The delay means the department’s daily duties of cleaning sewer lines and performing inspections will “not be as aggressive,” Miller said.
“We won’t stop, though,” he said.