Mayor Joe St. John said Sunbury’s wastewater treatment plant, last upgraded in 2004, was originally designed for 1,125,000 gallons per day and is now operating at about 80 percent capacity.

He said planned upgrades will expand capacity to 2,000,000 gallons per day, allowing the city to serve an estimated 11,500 residents and replace equipment that has been in place for more than 20 years. St. John framed the work as a long-term planning step to keep infrastructure ahead of growth.

The mayor emphasized the plant is a utility and that its funding reflects future revenues and demand rather than the general fund. He did not provide a construction schedule, total project cost or specific financing plan during the State of the City address.

The mayor described capacity figures and the intended population served as planning estimates rather than binding commitments and said the upgrades are intended to ensure reliable operations as the city grows.