HERMISTON -- Hermiston City Council chose a contractor this week for about $17 million of work at the city's wastewater treatment plant.

The council approved hiring Slayden Construction Group for the plant improvement portion of the city's Recycled Water Plant project.

Slayden Construction Group's bid of $17.2 million was more than 15 percent less than the engineer's estimate, according to a news release.

Construction on the project could start as early as January or February and finish in late 2014.