Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Utilities Department
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To: |
David Corliss, City Manager Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager
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From: |
Bob Brower, Wastewater/Utilities Field Operations Manager
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CC: |
Dave Wagner, Director of Utilities Mike Lawless, Assistant Utilities Director Beth Krishtalka, Utilities Management Analyst Mark Hegeman, Utilities Operations Superintendent
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Date: |
April 27, 2009
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RE: |
May 11, 2010 City Commission Agenda Approve Chemical Root Control Contract Renewal/Bid# B09034 |
Please include the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the May 11, 2010 meeting.
Bid# B09034 - Approve 2010 Chemical Root Control Contract Renewal with Dukes Root Control, Inc
History:
The purpose of the program is to apply chemical root control agent to sanitary sewers in order to kill the root growth present in the lines and to inhibit re‑growth without permanently damaging the vegetation producing the roots.
The Utility Department began the Root Control Program in 1998. The treated sanitary sewer line segments have a 2-year warranty against root re-growth. The vendor will re-apply treatment if roots re-grow in the line during the warranty period at no additional cost to the city. The selected sanitary sewer line segments in each year’s project are retreated every 3rd year as part of the Root Control Program.
Sanitary sewer line segments are selected for root control on the basis of several factors. These factors include:
· Blockages caused by root infiltration
· TV inspection
· Maintenance records
· Age of pipe
· Pipe material
· Above ground conditions (trees)
On June 16, 2009 bids were opened for the 2009 Root Control Program. Two vendors bid on the project, Ace Pipe Cleaning and Duke’s Root Control, Inc. The bid provided for four (4) annual renewals beyond the initial contract year. The bid submitted by Ace Pipe Cleaning is considered unresponsive as it did not meet the criteria specified in the bid documents nor did they respond to all elements requested in the bid proposal.
The City bid specifications required bid prices for pipe sizes from 8-inch through 24-inch, a 5% Bid Bond and a minimum of three (3) Kansas certified pesticide applicators. The bid submitted by Ace Pipe Cleaning did not provide prices on any line sizes larger than 8-inch, did not include a bid bond and only provided one (1) Kansas certified pesticide applicator. The City specification required the root chemical to be Razorooter II or equivalent product rated Group “E” on the USEPA Chronic Exposure Rate Scale. Chemical products containing the active ingredient metam sodium are specifically prohibited due to a USEPA Group “C” rating. Metam sodium has also been responsible for disruption of the biological process in wastewater treatment plants. The bid provided by Ace was for the use of the chemical Sanafoam Vaporooter II. The active ingredients in Sanafoam Vaporooter II are metam sodium and dichlobenil both Group “C” chemicals. See the following table for a comparison of the products.
Root Control Chemical Comparisons
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Razorooter II |
Sanafoam Vaporooter II |
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Active Ingredient Concentration (according to the EPA label) |
Contains 37.3% diquat dibromide (diquat) in a water-based concentrate that is highly soluble in water for easy mixing
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Contains 30% metam sodium (metam) water based concentrate and 50% dichlobenil wettable powder |
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EPA Carcinogenicity Classification |
USEPA Group E – Evidence of non-carcinogenicity for Humans |
Metam: USEPA Group C – Possible Human Carcinogen Dichlobenil: USEPA Group C – Possible Human Carcinogen
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Chemical Stability |
Non-volatile liquid concentrate that is highly soluble in water for easy mixing |
Metam will degrade when diluted with water to methyl isothiocyanate (MITC), a moderate poison, and/or to hydrogen sulfide, a highly poisonous gas |
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EPA Acute Toxicity Classification Signal Word |
Category 2: Warning |
Category 1: Danger (due to acute toxicity)
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EPA Restricted Use Pesticide |
No |
Yes, due to acute toxicity
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Non-Target Effects |
Diquat is a contact herbicide that binds quickly and strongly to the target roots, organic material and clay, sand and silt particles in wastewater. This greatly minimizes diquat effects to beneficial microorganism populations important in the degradation process of dead root tissue |
Metam acts a biocide by killing all live organisms within the treated sections of sewer pipe, including beneficial microorganisms important in the degradation process of dead root tissue. |
Duke’s Root Control, Inc met all specifications. Duke’s Root Control has been the successful bidder since 1998. The 2009-2013 bid prices submitted by Duke’s are the same cost per foot as bid in the 2006 – 2008 root control program.
The bid tabulation is in the following two tables.
Duke’s Root Control, Inc
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Pipe Size |
2009 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
2010 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
2011 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
2012 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
2013 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
Footage
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8 inch
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$1.29 |
$1.29 |
$1.29 |
$1.29 |
$1.29 |
68,635 |
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10 inch
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$1.76 |
$1.76 |
$1.76 |
$1.76 |
$1.76 |
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12 inch
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$1.92 |
$1.92 |
$1.92 |
$1.92 |
$1.92 |
5,091 |
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15 inch
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$2.73 |
$2.73 |
$2.73 |
$2.73 |
$2.73 |
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18 inch
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$3.97 |
$3.97 |
$3.97 |
$3.97 |
$3.97 |
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24 inch
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$6.35 |
$6.35 |
$6.35 |
$6.35 |
$6.35 |
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Ace Pipe Cleaning
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Pipe Size |
2009 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
2010 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
2011 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
2012 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
2013 Unit Price Per Linear Foot |
Footage
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8 inch
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$0.93 |
$0.96 |
$1.00 |
$1.03 |
$1.06 |
68,635 |
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10 inch
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No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
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12 inch
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No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
5,091 |
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15 inch
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No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
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18 inch
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No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
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24 inch
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No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
No bid |
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Program Status:
The Utilities Department implemented a Chemical Root Control Program in 1998. The program is very successful in reducing root growth in city mains which aids in preventing root blockages thus reducing backup calls and sanitary sewer overflows and improving customer service.
Project Funding:
Funding for the 2010 Chemical Root Control Program will come from the 2010 Collection System Operations and Maintenance budget: 501-7410-584-2538.
Action Request:
Utilities Department staff recommends approval from the City Commission to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract agreement and purchase order with Duke’s Root Control, Inc in the amount of $98,313.87 to treat 68,635 feet of 8 inch pipe and 5,091 feet 12 inch for the 2010 Chemical Root Control Program.
Thank you for your assistance. Please advise if you have any questions.
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cc: |
David Corliss |
Mike Lawless |
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Cynthia Wagner Diane Stoddard |
Bobbie Walthall Alan Landis |
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Dave Wagner Jonathan Douglass |
Mark Hegeman Beth Kristalka |
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Project Map Area
(Treatment areas marked by yellow box)
