Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David Corliss – City Manager Cynthia Boecker, Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Philip Ciesielski – Asst. Director of Utilities
CC:	Dave Wagner – Director of Utilities Beth Frailey Krishtalka – Management Analyst Dave King – Utility Department Maintenance Manager Mark Hegeman – Water Systems Manager Charles Ballenger – Kaw WTP Manager
Date:	January 2, 2008
RE:	January 8, 2008 Agenda Item – Advertise RFP for Design and Construction Engineering Services for the Kaw WTP Disinfection Conversion – Chlorine Gas to Sodium Hypochlorite Liquid

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the January 8, 2008 meeting:

Authorize Staff to advertise a Request for Proposals for design and construction phase engineering services for the Kaw WTP Disinfection Conversion – Chlorine Gas to Sodium Hypochlorite Liquid.

Project Description

As part of the design of the current Clinton WTP Phase II Expansion an evaluation of the change of disinfectant from the existing chlorine gas to liquid sodium hypochlorite was completed. This evaluation included staff and public safety concerns, the added cost of additional security measures required by the Homeland Security Act for the storage of bulk quantities of chlorine gas, and consideration of the fact that unfunded Federal legislation is being introduced to emphasize the use of safer technology such as sodium hypochlorite to replace chlorine gas in potable water treatment plants. Based on the results of this evaluation and the authorization of the City Commission the installation of sodium hypochlorite disinfection facilities at the Clinton WTP in lieu of the expansion of the existing chlorine gas facilities is being carried out at this time.

The same concerns for staff and public safety, additional costs from pending Federal legislation regarding continued chlorine gas use, costs associated with additional security measures required by the Homeland Security Act for the storage of bulk quantities of chlorine gas and the cost of continued risk management efforts associated with the current use of chlorine gas also exist at the Kaw WTP. In addition, the existing storage and chemical feed facilities for chlorine gas at the Kaw WTP are “grandfathered in” and do not meet current building codes. Significant costs would be associated with bringing the existing facilities up to the current standards. These factors led to findings during the recent Lawrence Utility Management System external audit that indicated the continued use of chlorine gas is the Utility Department’s most significant safety risk to both the public and staff.

Project Status/Details

In an effort to not only standardize the City’s water and wastewater disinfection processes but also eliminate the risks and future costs associated with the continued use of chlorine gas Staff have performed a preliminary investigation into the implementation of sodium hypochlorite liquid as the disinfectant at the Kaw WTP. Staff have completed pilot testing of sodium hypochlorite liquid at the Kaw WTP and performed a site assessment identifying locations for both chemical storage and chemical feed equipment.

As part of the project Utility Department Staff will provide labor and equipment including the procurement and installation of the bulk and day chemical storage tanks, transfer and chemical metering pumps; installation and design of the required electrical and control wiring, and chemical transfer and feed piping; and miscellaneous improvements and modifications to the area in the existing ammonia feed building required to house the sodium hypochlorite feed equipment. Staff will also provide the design, construction, installation and startup of the PLC and control and monitoring equipment associated with the sodium hypochlorite chemical feed.

Utilizing Staff as the general contractor, lead system designer and control system integrator will lead to overall cost savings. In addition this project will open up existing space at the Kaw WTP and establish the basic control system structure for additional reliability and safety improvements to performed “in house” to existing chemical storage and feed systems, in particular the fluoride and polymer systems.

Project Funding: 

Funding is proposed as a combination of the 2008 Miscellaneous System Improvements CIP Fund included in the 2008 budget and rate plan; and 2008 Operations funds. Engineering and Contractor efforts will be funded via the CIP funds, and the City provided labor and equipment via the 2008 Operational funds. These improvements have been identified by Staff as the priority expenditure from the 2008 Miscellaneous System Improvements CIP Fund. 

Action Request:  Authorize Staff to advertise a Request for Proposals for design and construction phase engineering services for the Kaw WTP Disinfection Conversion – Chlorine Gas to Sodium Hypochlorite Liquid.

Thank you for your assistance.  Please advise if you have any questions.