City of Bridgeport, Conn., enters wastewater partnership with Severn Trent Services

Fort Washington, Pa. — The Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) of the City of Bridgeport, Conn., selected Severn Trent Services to provide long-term operation, maintenance, management and customer services for the Authority’s wastewater collection and treatment systems through a public-private partnership. The 10-year contract includes two subsequent five-year options.

The public-private partnership is the first in Connecticut for Severn Trent Services, which now operates facilities in 22 states. The company currently is responsible for the operation of more than 900 treatment facilities worldwide, including 400 municipal treatment facilities in the United States.

According to Dana Kaas, vice president, Operating Services for Severn Trent Services, “Public-private partnerships have been shown to consistently benefit municipalities through operational efficiency, improved safety and increased compliance. In today’s unsettled economic environment, this experience is gaining increased currency.”

The WPCA system includes two wastewater treatment facilities with a total treatment capacity of 40 million gallons per day; 10 sewage pump stations; and 283 miles of sewers, 123 miles of which are combined sanitary and storm sewers. The system serves a population of approximately 175,000. Severn Trent will continue to support the WPCA in complying with three open consent orders with the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.