Umatilla Hopes Completion Of New Wastewater System Is Near

    With a series of delays hopefully in the rearview mirror, the City of Umatilla hopes that the new year will bring a conclusion to its wastewater connection project with the City of Eustis. Supply chain issues, weather, and manpower issues have left the multi-million dollar project months behind schedule with officials now eyeing a February 2023 completion date.
   “The project should be completed in February of 2023 and put into service in March of 2023,” said Umatilla’s director of development and public services Aaron Mercer this week, after a recent briefing in front of the Umatilla City Council.
   The ambitious project will eventually allow Umatilla to mostly abandon its wastewater plant operations, and instead pump its wastewater down a SR 19 line to the City of Eustis. In addition, Umatilla is looking to develop its soon-to-be unused spray field and percolation ponds into a community industrial park.
   The project has seen several delays that have led to contractors missing the original completion date of this past June.
   “All the pipeline from the Umatilla wastewater treatment plant to the City of Eustis’ Bates Avenue wastewater treatment plant has been installed,” Mercer said, “The remaining work involves the pumping stations, screening facility, flow equalization tank, and electrical work at the Umatilla wastewater treatment plant, which is approximately 70% complete.”
   Mercer said some needed equipment, specifically the control panel for the pump stations, was not released until October 28, due to shortages of electrical components needed for the panel. Heavy rains, including two recent tornados, brought further delays.