HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/17/2004 - STAFF REPORTS (14) DATE: November 17, 2004
TO: City Council
FROM: Director of Public Works/City Engineer
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FLOW STUDY
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council authorize staff to provide Veolia Water North
America Operating Services, Inc (formerly US Filter Operating Services) a Notice to
Proceed to complete a flow study for a lump sum amount of$25,000, as a capital project
under Section 5.3 of the five-year operations and maintenance agreement.
SUMMARY:
Approval of this item will authorize Veolia Water, the firm that maintains and operates our
wastewater treatment plant, to conduct a flow study to verify that inflows to the treatment
plant are being accurately recorded, to assess whether there are any specific areas of
exfiltration, and to more accurately be able to predict when additional capacity can be
expected to be needed at the treatment plant.
BACKGROUND:
Over the past three years, the City has experienced considerable growth, however, the
monthly reports at the wastewater treatment plant have not shown a corresponding
increase in flows into the plant. While this could be due to effectiveness of water
conservation efforts, there is also a possibility it may be caused by exfiltration (the leakage
of wastewater from the collection system). Discussions with personnel at the wastewater
treatment plant indicate that it does not appear to be a simple metering problem, as flows
through the plant do not appear to be more than that metered.
The possibility of the lack of accurate tracking of inflows to the plant or where exfiltration,
which when repaired would lead to increased flows to the plant, do not lend themselves
to prudent planning for plant expansion due to increased development in the city.
Because of the necessity for planning for this expansion, it is important that accurate
readings of flow to the plant be obtained. Veolia Water and their subcontractor, who
specializes in collection system flow monitoring, would set up flow monitoring devices at
the plant and at ten areas throughout the collection system, to monitor for a seven day
period. The flow data will then be compared at these locations and analyzed. In this way,
the accuracy of the plant flow meter will be verified and any areas of the collection system
in which exfiltration is occurring will be identified.
If exfiltration is indicated, a more detailed investigation on a separate contract will then
need to be focused to identify specific areas in need of repairs. Once total wastewater
flow generated in the city is accurately determined, the City would know whether the
treatment plant and lift station capacities are adequate for the current and projected
growth. This will enable us to much more accurately plan for future facility expansions.
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WWTP Flow Study
November 17, 2004
Page 2
It is recommended that City Council authorize staff to provide Veolia Water a Notice to
Proceed with the flow study for a lump sum amount of $25,000. This would provide 14
sites for flow meters over a seven-day metering period. Staff has investigated and found
the fee to be competitive with what we could obtain as part of a separate bidding process.
Veolia Water would proceed under the terms of Section 5.3 of the five-year operation and
maintenance agreement.
Funds are available in the Wastewater Treatment Plant budget account number
420-6800-50000 (Unscheduled Capital Projects).
SUBMITTED BY: // APPROVED BY:
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DAVID J. BARAKIAN DAVID H. READY '`
Director of Public Works/City Engineer City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Minute Order
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MINUTE ORDER NO. 711
AUTHORIZING STAFF TO PROVIDE VEOLIA WATER
NORTH AMERICA OPERATING SERVICES, INC
(FORMERLY US FILTER OPERATING SERVICES) A
NOTICE TO PROCEED TO COMPLETE A FLOW STUDY
FOR A LUMP SUM AMOUNT OF $25,000, AS A CAPITAL
PROJECT UNDER SECTION 5.3 OF THE FIVE-YEAR
OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT.
I HEREBY CERTIFY that this Minute Order, authorizing staff to provide Veolia Water North
America Operating Services, Inc (formerly US Filter Operating Services) a Notice to
Proceed to complete a flow study for a lump sum amount of$25,000, as a capital project
under Section 5.3 of the five-year operations and maintenance agreement, was adopted
by the City Council of the City of Palm Springs, California, in a meeting thereof held on the
171h day of November, 2004.
KATHY HART
Acting City Clerk
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