For City Council Meeting and Rialto Utility Authority [June 26, 2018]
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
APPROVAL: Robb R. Steel, Interim City Administrator
FROM: Thomas J. Crowley, P.E., Utilities Manager
Title
Request City Council/Rialto Utility Authority to Approve a Final Construction Work Authorization in the Amount of $310,141 to Rialto Water Services for the Sewer Facility Improvement Project S8 - Repairs to the Primary Clarifier, Aeration Basin and Diffusers in Plants No. 3 and No. 4.
(ACTION)
Body
BACKGROUND:
The City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) serves the greater Rialto region and industry. Originally constructed in 1955 and expanded in later years, the WWTP consists of five distinct treatment plants named Plants 1 through 5. Plant 1 is abandoned. Each plant has individual primary and secondary treatment trains, but share common facilities for the tertiary treatment and solids handling.
On March 27, 2012, the City Council and the Rialto Utility Authority (RUA) took several actions related to approval of a Concession Agreement (CA) with Rialto Water Services, LP, (RWS) assigning operation and maintenance of the City’s water and sewer utilities to RWS. Implementation of the utility capital projects is carried out pursuant to the process outlined in Article XII of the CA.
This project was identified during March of 2017 when Plant Operations staff noticed some issues with the processing of sewage, leading them to investigate further. Upon further investigation, they discovered the airline piping in the aeration basin was broken in numerous spots and the blower wasn’t able to provide the required oxygen needed by the system to process sewage as required.
ANALYSIS/DISCUSSION:
Among the WWTP facility repairs identified are as follows:
• Drain and clean the primary clarifier for Plants No. 3 and 4,
• Drain and clean the aeration basins for Plants No. 3 and 4,
• Repair breaks and install new gaskets to seal aeration basin airline piping,
• Clean and reinstall fine bubble diffusers in Plants No. 3 and 4, and
• Investigate leaks in underground airline piping.
This work is outside of the scope of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project referred to as “S1 Project”.
The underground air pipe from the blowers to the aeration basins has numerous leaks due to normal wear and tear over time. Also, the air distribution piping and fine bubble diffusers in Plants 3 and 4 were broken in several locations. Due to this, even by running the blowers at maximum capacity, shortfalls in air supply to the aeration basin is observed, causing problems in the processing of sewage and meeting the regulatory requirements.
In an attempt to correct the problems and complete the repairs, RWS/Veolia conducted pre-bid job walks with potential bidders on April 28, 2017 and May 5, 2017. At this time, RWS/Veolia attempted to have all of the identified repair work completed as one project. Unfortunately, the majority of the bidders in attendance at the pre-bid job walks declined to bid on the work as one project. RWS/Veolia decided to break the necessary work out to four different contractors, with Veolia contracting out and supervising the work.
The work was divided up into segments that could be easily contracted out. The project was phased over two summers. This allows at least one Plant to operate while the other is being repaired. So with this in mind, repairs were completed on Plant No. 4 during the summer of 2017 and Plant No. 3 is anticipated to be completed by September of 2018. These additional repairs will ensure the WWTP operates efficiently until other WWTP improvements are completed in 2020.
The contractors that are identified to complete the work as follows:
• Starlight who cleaned primary clarifier and aeration basin for Plant No. 4,
• OC Vacuum who will clean primary clarifier and aeration basin for Plant No. 3,
• Tracktech who will repair the airline and diffusers for both Plants,
• Merlin Johnson who will inspect the 8 inch air piping,
• Houston Harris who will inspect the12 inch piping,
• NI Associates who is assisting with work specifications and engineering
The total FCWA authorization is a not to exceed amount of $310,141, which includes negotiated percentages as allowed in the Concession Agreement and a contingency for change orders if needed.
The Utility Commission reviewed this item at the June 19, 2018, meeting and recommends approval by the City Council. A copy of the proposed FCWA documents are included as Attachment 1.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act, a project means the whole of an action, which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. A project does not include continuing administrative or maintenance activities.
GENERAL PLAN CONSISTENCY:
Approval of this action complies with the City of Rialto General Plan Goal and Policies:
Goal 3-9: Upgrade and maintain an improved wastewater system with adequate plant efficiency and capacity to protect the health and safety of all Rialto residents, businesses, and institutions.
Policy 3-9.2: Evaluate the wastewater disposal system routinely to ensure its adequacy to meet changes in demand and changes in types of waste.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City Attorney has reviewed and approved the staff report
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Operating Budget Impacts
Operating costs may be reduced slightly through the reduced use of chemicals and electricity; however the primary goal of the project is to meet regulatory requirements for wastewater operations. Operating costs will continue to be absorbed by the Utility Authority through the Concession Agreement.
Capital Improvement Budget Impacts
Sufficient budget is available in Sewer Fund Account No. 660-500-7860-3001-140501 for the proposed project. This capital project will be funded by the Wastewater Concessionaire Construction Account funds in the amount of $310,141. The following table summarizes the S8 Project costs:
Employment Impact
For this project, RWS/Veolia anticipates approximately eight employees will be utilized for one month of work through subcontractors being used to complete various components of the project.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council/Rialto Utility Authority:
• Approve a Final Construction Work Authorization in the amount of $310,141 to Rialto Water Services for the Sewer Facility Improvement Project S8 - Repairs to the Primary Clarifier, Aeration Basin and Diffusers in Plants No. 3 and No. 4.
• Delegate authority to the City Administrator, or his designee, to approve and execute construction contract change orders up to a cumulative amount of $25,845.12 for the Sewer Facility Improvement Project S8 - Repairs to the Primary Clarifier, Aeration Basin and Diffusers in Plants No. 3 and No. 4.