MORGANTOWN – The Morgantown Utility Board expansion of its Cheat Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant is about halfway done.
“The project is 48% complete. The project is on schedule for its final completion date of Aug. 31, 2027,” MUB Construction Manager Jeremiah Johnson explained. “The contractor has overcome a wet spring 2025 and bitter cold spell this past February. We have experienced more than anticipated rock excavation and unsuitable foundation material during excavation for new concrete structures and installation of underground utilities.”
MUB awarded the project to Braddock, Pennsylvania-based Mele & Mele & Sons for just over $36 million in late 2024.
The project is both growing the plant’s capacity from 750,000 gallons per day to 1.75 million gallons per day, and expanding its physical footprint onto a 12.7-acre property behind the existing facility and between Sunset Beach Road and the Chestnut Ridge Church parking lot.
Johnson said the improvements will touch every aspect of the operation.
‘Key enhancements include the installation of state-of-the-art ultraviolet disinfection technology, which provide advanced treatment while reducing chemical use. Odor control improvements will enhance air quality in areas surrounding the facility and standby power capabilities will help ensure uninterrupted operations during power outages,” he said. “Together, these upgrades will strengthen system resiliency, improve operational reliability, and help the plant consistently meet permit requirements while protecting the water quality of Cheat Lake.”
The upgrade is designed not only to meet today’s needs, but make future improvements more cost-effective, according to Johnson.
When the project was initiated, the plant was already exceeding 90% of its designed capacity, while its Cheat Lake service area was growing by about 3.75% annually.
MUB put the work out to bid in a highly competitive market as public bodies were racing the deadline to obligate American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
It was reflected in the offers.
Mele & Mele & Sons’ initial bid was the lowest, but still came in about $9 million over the $30.8 million engineer’s estimate. The only other bid received was for $48.6 million.
As a result, upgrades to the Whites Run Lift Station and Greystone Lift Station were, at least temporarily, removed from the project to reduce costs.
On the other end, the West Virginia Water Development Authority increased its ARPA contribution to the project from $6.75 million to just over $8 million and the size of the loan available through the West Virginia DEP State Revolving Fund was adjusted up.
Despite the higher-than-expected price tag, MUB General Manager Mike McNulty explained that the capacity issues meant MUB could either move forward with the project or put it off and await a mandate from the state.
In preparation for the undertaking, Morgantown City Council finalized a 100% rate increase for MUB’s Cheat Lake sewer customers in October 2024. Those rates have been in place since Nov. 29 of that year.
