CHANDLER — Although it could ultimately cost Chandler $2.7 million to upgrade portions of its wastewater treatment plant, city administrator Jim Moffeit said the most pressing needs at the site are likely to require as little as $900,000.

“What we need right now is only about $900,000 to $1 million,” he said. “For everything — and that could be 15 years down the road — the cost would be about $2.7 million. The improvements are broken down into what is needed right now and what can be done much later.”

City officials are still weighing their options for financing the work following a June 3 meeting, but Moffeit said a vote could come as early as July on how to pay for the bonds.

The plant off Noonday Road operates with a clarifier, oxidation ditch, screener, chlorine-contact chamber and drying bed. The city wants to add a second clarifier so that one can continue to run while work is performed on the other.

The single clarifier runs 24 hours a day, making it impossible for workers to perform maintenance on it.

The plant, the city’s second treatment facility, was built in the 1980s.

“We’ve kept the plant up, and it’s in excellent condition,” Moffeit said. “I’m going to meet with the engineer to consolidate a couple of plans he’s given us so we can come up with a final version of what we’re going to do. We should have something for the council in July.”

Chandler’s wastewater treatment plant relies primarily on gravity-force sewer mains to deliver waste.

In areas where that is not possible, five lift stations pump waste to the plant.

Once waste water is treated through a four-step process, the clean water is redistributed into Lake Palestine.

The plant is permitted by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to treat 500,000 gallons of waste water per day.

Chandler could use bonds, certificates of obligation or other revenue sources to finance the project. Chandler’s budget is about $3.2 million.