Agenda Item Wording:
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Irrigation Well Emergency Repair - Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Kaweah Pump for $155,515 for emergency repair to the irrigation well at Stonebrook Park and appropriate an additional $71,100 from the General Fund.
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Deadline for Action: 8/19/2024
Submitting Department: Community Services
Contact Name and Phone Number: Daryl Tillman, Park Maintenance Supervisor 713-4435; daryl.tillman@visalia.city <mailto:daryl.tillman@visalia.city> Alvin Dias, Parks and Facilities Manager 713-4564; alvin.dias@visalia.city <mailto:alvin.dias@visalia.city> John Lollis, Assistant City Manager 713-4323; john.lollis@visalia.city <mailto:john.lollis@visalia.city>
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends the City Council approve an appropriation of $71,100 from the General Fund and authorize the City Manager to award an emergency irrigation well repair contract to Kaweah Pump, Inc. of Visalia, CA, in the amount of $155,515.
Background Discussion:
Summary:
The irrigation well at Stonebrook Park is the primary source of water for the Park’s irrigation system. This well maintains the landscape for the 12-acre Park to include 10.8-acres of turf, as well as many established trees and shrubs. Staff found that the well was not producing water and the Park was drying. Kaweah Pump, Inc. was contacted to perform a diagnostic on the well and found that the water table has dropped below a safe operating level for the submersible pump. This caused the submersible pump to be without water during draw down, causing the pump to overheat and crack the housing. Kaweah Pump found that the well depth was 210’, the well pump was set at 189’, and that a new submersible pump could not be lowered to a safe operating level because of the current well depth.
Kaweah Pump was used to perform the initial well inspection given they were available to respond within twenty-four (24) hours to pull the well pump and perform the assessment. With Kaweah Pump performing the initial assessment, they have all the information that is needed to drill the well deeper and install the new submersible pump and equipment. They are also available to perform the well drilling and installation of equipment promptly by moving crews to complete the project and get irrigation restored at the Park.
Staff have also compared their estimated costs with the current well projects that are being performed at East Side Regional Park Basin G and they are comparable, with some materials costs lower than the Basin G project.
Background:
The irrigation well at Stonebrook Park is currently not producing water. Staff noticed that the irrigation had not operated per schedule and the area was dry. Staff then tried testing the irrigation controller and could not get the well pump to operate correctly. The well equipment was vibrating excessively, and the system was setting off operational alarms and would not allow the variable frequency drive (VFD) to operate the well pump. Kaweah Pump was called on a service call to perform a diagnostic on the VFD. During the service call, the technician was able to operate the well by bypassing the VFD. and yet still could not produce water. The technician was concerned with the vibration of the well equipment and recommended the well pump be pulled and the well shaft videoed.
The well column pipe and submersible pump were removed to video the well to assess the ability of the well to produce water. With the submersible pump removed, Kaweah Pump was able to assess the water well. They determined that the standing water level was at 161’ and the pump was set at 189’. With the equipment set at the current depth the water level would drop during draw down below the pump set point, causing the submersible pump to be without water. This damaged the well pump beyond repair and because of the limitations of the current well depth.
Staff did explore other methods of irrigating the Park. During construction of Stonebrook Park a four-inch (4”) Cal Water service was installed as a secondary watering source to the irrigation well. Unfortunately, this water service is unable to meet the irrigation demands of the park and is not adequately keeping the landscape alive. Staff also explored drilling a new well within the Park, but due to the topography of the landscape, limited space, and location of utilities, the only alternative is to drill within the existing casing to deepen the well.
Fiscal Impact:
During the 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget review process, funds were requested for a CIP project for the Emergency Well Repair at Stonebrook Park. At its meeting on April 15, 2024, the City Council approved the allocation of $100,000 in CIP CP0648 for the deepening and installation of new well equipment of the Stonebrook Park irrigation well. The total cost of the well project staff received is $151,551 and exceeds the budgeted amount. Staff is requesting an additional appropriation of $71,100 from the General Fund, which includes a ten percent (10%) construction contingency of $15,585 to cover any unforeseen issues that could arise while drilling.
Prior Council Action: April 15, 2024 - the City Council approved the appropriation of $100,000 in CIP CP0648 for the drilling of a new irrigation well at Stonebrook Park.
Other: None
Alternatives: Reject proposal for the emergency well repair and go out for a Request for Bids. This will delay the repairs and could lead to further loss of landscaping.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to approve an appropriation of $71,100 from the General Fund and authorize the City Manager to award an emergency irrigation well repair contract to Kaweah Pump of Visalia, CA, in the amount of $155,515.
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: Kaweah Pump, Inc. Repair Quote, Stonebrook Park Wellbore Inspection Report