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  • Peirce Island Wastewater Facility Upgrade Project

Peirce Island Wastewater Facility Upgrade Project

The new Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility hosted a ribbon-cutting in July 2021 with EPA and other State and local officials and project contractors participating. As intended, this project significantly increased the level of wastewater treatment provided at the facility, resulting in improved effluent discharged to the Piscataqua River. The upgrade included the installation of new headworks, rotary screw presses for solids dewatering and an advanced secondary biological treatment process which removes organics and nitrogen. The $93 million project marks a milestone in the City’s history and with $81.9 million in state funding, is the largest in the history of the NH State Revolving Fund loan programs that support drinking water safety, water quality, and public health through low-cost financial assistance. As detailed in the Awards section, the upgrade project has received several awards for its completion under year-round weather conditions and without interruption to the continued operation of the existing treatment facility.Go to WWTF tour video

Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility has received the following awards:

  • 2022 American Council of Engineering Companies of MA Project Excellence Award for the Silver award
  • Water Environment Federation (WEF) Project Excellence Award
  • Associated Builders and Contractors of New Hampshire and Vermont (ABC NH/VT) Excellence in Construction Award  and Chairman’s Award

Progress videos are available on our YouTube page, shown below.

Project Contact

Erich Fiedler
Erich Fiedler

Erich Fiedler

City Engineer
603-766-1412
esfiedler@cityofportsmouth.com

DEDICATION JULY 13, 2021

For information about the dedication event, click here.

PROJECT FACTSHEET

  • Start Date: September 2016
  • BAF Substantial Completion: December 2019
  • Secondary Permit Compliance: April 2020
  • Project Substantial Completion: July 2021
  • Final Completion:  2021 (under review)
  • Project Construction Costs:
    • Base Contract:       $72,785,545.00
    • Change Order No. 1: $367,290.42
    • Change Order No. 2: $546,722.46
    • Change Order No. 3: $  93,838.31
    • Change Order No. 4: $162,869.20
    • Change Order No. 5: $249,828.16
    • Change Order No. 6: $292,031.11
    • Change Order No. 7: $169,138.30
    • Change Order No. 8: $112,659.75
    • Change Order No. 9: $242,419.68
    • Change Order No.10:$122,783.46
    • Change Order No.11:$138,938.61
    • Change Order No.12 $834,356.28
    • Total Contract:      $76,118,420.74
  • Design Engineer: AECOM
  • General Contractor: Methuen Construction
  • Design Flow: 6.1 MGD average
  • New Treatment Processes:
    • New Headworks
    • Biologically aerated/anoxic filter (BAF) using the Kruger BioSTYR ™ technology for Secondary Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
    • Rotary screw presses for solids dewatering
    • Simplified Process Flow Schematic

NEWS & UPDATES

  • 07/13/21 - Dedication Ceremony
  • 01/03/20 - Methuen Construction Meets December 31 milestone for substantial complete of new treatment process for Peirce Island WWT Facility
  • 11/22/19 - City provides notification that Methuen Construction will not achieve December 1 milestone
  • 05/28/19 - Public tour of the Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility on Thursday, June 13th
  • 07/25/18 - Public Tour of the Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility on Tuesday, July 24th
  • 04/13/18 - Weekend work to continue periodically at Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility
  • 02/2/18 - Weekend work to begin at Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility
  • 06/28/17 - Overnight Work on Peirce Island Tonight, June 28th
  • 06/1/17 - Upcoming Night Work on Peirce Island
  • 05/4/17 - Sewer System Field Work Begins May 8, 2017
  • 05/4/17 - Construction of Four Tree Island Parking Occurring Before Pool Season
  • 04/28/17 - Revised Concrete Haul Route for Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility Work
  • 04/17/17 - Peirce Island WWTF Upgrade Quarterly Update to City Council
  • Peirce Island Road Bridge Repairs Resumed 2/15/17
  • Notification of SSO due to sewer main break 2/3/17
  • 1/17/17 Aerial Video of Construction Site and Staging Areas

RECREATIONAL IMPACT ADVISORY

State Fish Pier: No restrictions – Open

Public Boat Launch: No restrictions. Open seasonally.

Four Tree Island Parking Lot: Open. 

Four Tree Island : Vehicular access restricted past outdoor pool - Open.

Off-leash Dog Area: Open but road restricted at outdoor pool on weekdays due to construction. Stick to trails and avoid fenced areas.

Peirce Island Outdoor Pool Access: Currently Unrestricted – Open seasonally. 

Progress Reports and Public Tour Handouts

Content
  • 2021 July 13:  Public Tour
  • 2020 March: Progress Report
  • 2019 June 13:  Public Tour
  • 2018 November:  Progress Report
  • 2018 July 24:  Public Tour
  • 2018 January 26:  City Council Tour
  • 2017 October:  Progress Report
  • 2017 June:  Progress Report
  • 2017 April:  Progress Report
  • 2017 January 9:  Progress Report

Map of Project Area

Content

Map of Peirce Island Project Area

 

Designated Map of Construction Traffic Route

Content

Designated Map of Construction Traffic Route

Recorded Meetings

02/15/22 PWTF- Lab Building Overview

02/15/22 PWTF- Lab Building Overview

February 15, 2022

02/15/22 PWTF- Headworks overview

02/15/22 PWTF- Headworks overview

February 15, 2022

Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility, Portsmouth NH Video Tour

Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility, Portsmouth NH Video Tour

July 12, 2021

03.17.21 Peirce Island WWTF Public Meeting

03.17.21 Peirce Island WWTF Public Meeting

March 22, 2021

02.17.21 Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility Public Meeting

02.17.21 Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Facility Public Meeting

February 17, 2021

Go To YouTube Playlist

Aerial Videos

February 2021 Peirce Island WWTF Upgrade Aerial Video

February 2021 Peirce Island WWTF Upgrade Aerial Video

March 16, 2021

December 2020 - Peirce Island Aerial Video

December 2020 - Peirce Island Aerial Video

January 11, 2021

Peirce Island - November 2020 Aerial Video

Peirce Island - November 2020 Aerial Video

November 16, 2020

Peirce Island WWTF Public Construction September,  2020

Peirce Island WWTF Public Construction September, 2020

September 2, 2020

February 2020 Aerial Progress Video Peirce Island WWTF Project

February 2020 Aerial Progress Video Peirce Island WWTF Project

March 3, 2020

Go To YouTube Playlist
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Wastewater & Sewer

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