By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
Bucyrus Service/Safety Director Jeff Wagner opened bids for the new Waste Water Treatment Plant blower Tuesday.
Lone Star Blower of Houston, Texas submitted a $70,700 bid for a maximum 75 horsepower blower and a $79,800 bid for a maximum 100 horsepower blower.
APG Neuros Inc., a company based in Blainville, Quebec, submitted bids of $105,000 and $120,000 for 75 and 100 horsepower blowers, respectively.
The city’s current blowers are 15 years old and a new high turbo blower would be more efficient than its predecessor as it blows compressed air into aeration tanks. The new blower would run at 35,000 rpms.
“These are more efficient blowers where we should save about $2,500 to $3,000 a month in electric bills,” Waste Water Treatment Plant Supervisor Terry Spiegel explained. “Purchasing this gives us a three-year payback.”
Mayor Jeff Reser said the city is looking at ways to save as electric rates rise. He added that replacing the blower would result in substantial savings for the city.