Agenda Item Wording:
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Authorize the City Manager to award an emergency contract to Carollo of Fresno, CA in the amount of $515,400 for the Condition Assessment, Facility Plan, and Master Plan Update at the City's Water Reclamation Facility. Also, authorize the appropriation of $550,000 from the Wastewater Enterprise Fund (431).
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Deadline for Action: 4/3/2023
Submitting Department: Public Works
Contact Name and Phone Number: Nick Bartsch, Public Works Director, nick.bartsch@visalia.city <mailto:nick.bartsch@visalia.city>, 713-4052
Department Recommendation:
Staff recommends that Council authorize the City Manager to award an emergency contract to Carollo of Fresno, CA in the amount of $515,400 for the Condition Assessment, Facility Plan, and Master Plan Update at the City's Water Reclamation Facility. Also, authorize the appropriation of $550,000 from the Wastewater Enterprise Fund (431) to cover potential full costs of the project.
Background Discussion:
In 2018, the City completed a $150 million upgrade to the City’s Water Reclamation Facility (WRF). This project made various improvements throughout the plant utilizing a tertiary treatment process, thus creating the ability to produce California Title 22 compliant recycled water using membrane bioreactor (MBR) treatment, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection technologies. This upgrade was necessary as a result of the Central Valley Water Board’s adoption of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit (NPDES No. CA0079189) under Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) Order R5-2014-0076, which increased regulation on processed wastewater discharge into Mill Creek in 2014. Therefore, these improvements to the facility allowed for treatment and disinfection for up to 22.0 million gallons of wastewater per day (mgd) and the rerouting of the plant’s effluent to alternative destinations and uses. The treatment processes remove greater than 99% of traditional pollutants and allows the permitted ability to provide disinfected tertiary effluent to not only the City’s basins, but also to Tulare Irrigation District canals, the Visalia Municipal Airport, Plaza Park, the golf course and nearby farmland.
However, the significant upgrades completed in 2018 made major changes to the treatment processes and increased Plant-wide efficiencies, focused on certain components and processes within the Plant, but did not increase the overall design capacity of the entire facility. When the last Facility Master Plan was updated in 2008, the design capacity was 22 mgd. Since that time, upgrades and changes to individual components have made expansion provisions to bring those systems up to the 22 mgd, but have not increased it. Based on projected growth, the current 2008 Master Plan calls for capacity increasing improvements to be completed by 2030, thus expanding the Plant capacity to 26 mgd. To date, these proposed improvements have not yet been completed. Additionally, since the last major upgrade project in 2018, influent industrial flow loadings for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS) have increased drastically over the past few years. This coupled with successful water conservation efforts throughout the City, while beneficial from a water usage standpoint, have changed and impacted the consistency of flows entering the plant. Higher loadings cause strains and upsets on the solids handling system including the thickening, digestion, and dewatering processes. The aeration basins along with the primary clarifiers have also been impacted due to the increase in solids loading. These changes have affected the operations of the facility and its overall available capacity.
While the WRF discharge currently meets effluent limitations, it is prudent for the City to evaluate the long-term impacts of these changes on the plant and its ability to maintain discharge requirements, continue efficient operations, and accommodate future growth. Due to the deteriorating condition of some process areas, the increased loading at the WRF, along with several other operational and maintenance issues, Staff has identified the need for an overall facility assessment and the development of a Facility Plan to evaluate the current flows, loads, and facility conditions. This plan will identify near-term WRF improvements. Additionally, the current WRF Master Plan dates back to 2008. So, in conjunction with the evaluation assessment and Facility Plan, Staff has also recognized the need to update the WRF Master Plan to serve as a strategic planning guide that will 1) identify long-term improvements needed to address condition, redundancy, and resiliency; 2) establish the path forward to meet current growth commitments and plan for buildout conditions within the City’s Sphere of Influence; and, 3) meet future anticipated regulatory changes. The Facility Plan will provide a 6-year strategy for near-term improvements, and the Master Plan Update will include a 20-year roadmap to plan for build-out growth conditions and long-term improvements. This process will help evaluate the current planned Capital Improvement Projects Program, prioritize these improvements, and address any needs for future expansion.
Due to recent failures of key components within the system, coupled with increased demand and potential growth, it is imperative this assessment be completed as soon as possible, allowing for identified needed improvements to be completed and ensuring consistent and reliable operations. Carollo of Fresno, CA is familiar with the WRF facility, prepared the previous 2008 Master Plan, and has the expertise and available resources to complete this work in a timely and expeditious manner. Their proposed rates and fees are in line with industry standards for this type of work. The total scope of this work is anticipated to be completed in approximately 9 months, with the initial assessment and Facility Plan being completed in the first 6 months of that timeline.
Fiscal Impact:
Carollo has proposed to complete this work for $515,400, but in order to account for any unforeseen needs and potential additional review or analysis not currently identified, Staff is recommending the approval and appropriation of funds up to $550,000. Adequate funding is currently available within the Wastewater Enterprise Fund 431. Additionally, money is budgeted annually to perform routine maintenance, as well as major Capital Improvement Projects. The proposed facilities assessment and master plan update will help validate those projects currently planned, re-prioritize, and/or completely shift the currently identified list of projects to better address present conditions, thus potentially funding itself in the process.
Prior Council Action: None
Other: None
Alternatives: Competitively select a consultant to perform these services via a Request for Proposals (RFP) process through the City’s Purchasing Department. (Due to the critical nature and timing of this work, this is not recommended.)
Recommended Motion (and Alternative Motions if expected):
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Authorize the City Manager to award an emergency contract to Carollo of Fresno, CA in the amount of $515,400 for the Condition Assessment, Facility Plan, and Master Plan Update at the City's Water Reclamation Facility. Also, authorize the appropriation of $550,000 from the Wastewater Enterprise Fund (431).
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Environmental Assessment Status: N/A
CEQA Review: N/A
Attachments: Carollo - WRF - Facility Assessment & Master Plan Update