Agenda Item Wording:
title
Appropriate $100,000 from the Wastewater Fund (431) for the disposal of biosolids produced at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.
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Deadline for Action: 10/16/2023
Submitting Department: Public Works
Contact Name and Phone Number:
Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, nick.bartsch@visalia.city, (559) 713-4052
Department Recommendation:
Appropriate an additional $100,000 from the Wastewater Fund (431) for the disposal of biosolids produced at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) produces biosolids as a bi-product of the treatment of wastewater that enters the facility. The State permit requires that this material be removed from the WRF site within 2 years. Historically, the City has contracted with a vendor to load, haul, and dispose of this material. This service was performed at a unit price, based on the tonnage of material disposed. The contract price in 2022 (for disposal of 2021 material) was $72 per ton. The final costs to dispose of the 2021 material totaled $296,979.68. The contract for this disposal service has since expired.
As an alternative to contracting out this turn-key service, Staff has identified another option that reduces cost, while maintaining compliance with the City’s State permit. There is no requirement in the City’s permit that dictates method of disposal, and therefore, through coordination with the County Landfill, they have confirmed their ability to accept this material at the current rate of $12 per ton. The City has procured transport services to haul this material from the WRF to the County Landfill for $160 per hour, equating to an estimated equivalent rate of $14 per ton. Therefore, through this coordination, this material can be hauled and disposed of for a fraction of the cost to contract out the entire operation.
However, the volume of biosolids has dramatically increased over recent years due to a variety of factors including growth throughout the City and its industrial customers, as well as the consistency of the influent entering the WRF. Consequently, adequate funding was not budgeted to cover the total amount of this work. Staff has estimated the volume of 2022 biosolids material to be approximately 7,000 tons. Costs associated with the transport and disposal of this material is paid for through the Biosolids Operating Budget (4336). As in the prior year, additional funding is needed to cover this increase in expenses. But, through the utilization of this alternative disposal method, the estimated additional funding needed is $100,000, which is still significantly less than the costs from the prior year. Appropriate budget figures will be included in the next budget cycle.
Fiscal Impact:
The $100,000 of additional funds will be appropriated to the Operating Budget for the Biosolids Division (4336-55700). Staff plans to increase the Biosolids Operating Budget for future disposal costs during the next 2-year budget cycle.
Prior Council Action:
December 5, 2022
Authorize the City Manager to extend the contract with Denali Water Solutions for the removal and disposal of biosolids produced at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility for a period of six (6) months for an amount not to exceed $220,000 and appropriate an additional $100,000 from the Wastewater Fund.
April 17, 2023
Authorize the City Manager to amend the not to exceed amount of the contract with Denali Water Solutions for the removal and disposal of biosolids produced at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility from $220,000 to $280,000 and appropriate an additional $83,500 from the Wastewater Fund.
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
recommendation
I move to appropriate an additional $100,000 from the Wastewater Fund (431) to the Biosolids Divisions Operating Budget (4336-55700) for the disposal of biosolids produced at the Visalia Water Reclamation Facility.
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Attachments:
None.