Memorandum
City of
Utilities Department
|
TO: |
David Corliss –
City Manager |
|
FROM: |
Philip Ciesielski –
Asst. Director of Utilities |
|
CC: |
David Cox – Asst.
Director of Utilities |
|
Date: |
March 5, 2008 |
|
RE: |
March 11, 2008 Agenda
Item – Negotiate 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 March 11, 2008 meeting:
Authorize Staff to negotiate a contract with Black & Veatch 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.
Per the City Commission’s January 8, 2008 authorization staff
advertised a Request for Proposals for design
and construction phase engineering services for the Kaw WTP
Disinfection Conversion – Chlorine Gas to Sodium Hypochlorite Liquid.
On February 1, 2008 in response to the
Request for Proposals staff received proposals from two (2) firms interested in
the project. Proposals were received from Shafer, Kline & Warren and Black
& Veatch.
A review committee consisting of Department of Utilities
staff evaluated the two proposals. Staff consistently ranked Black &
Veatch as the highest qualified respondent for the project. As indicated in the RFP the following
criteria were used to rate the responses:
Project knowledge & approach
Key project staff & their experience with similar projects
Location at which the work will be performed
Related experience with the Utilities Department
Schedule
Schedule
The following is the anticipated project schedule;
Design and Permitting April 2008 - May 2008
Advertisement & Bidding May 2008 – June 2008
Construction August 2008 – September 2008
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 negotiate a contract for design and construction
phase engineering services for the
Kaw WTP Disinfection Conversion – Chlorine Gas to Sodium Hypochlorite Liquid
with Black & Veatch.
Thank you for your assistance. Please advise if you have any questions.