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Agenda Item: 15(d) |
Prepared By: Jeffrey E. Poteet, General Manager |
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Business: City Council Item |
Department: Water and Sewer |
Title
Award of Contract to Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC for Replacement of the North Water Treatment Plant Filter Press (Model 1200N32-40-50SYLC), Including Parts, Labor, and Installation, in the Amount of $452,078.00 - Jeffrey E. Poteet, General Manager, Water & Sewer Department
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BACKGROUND:
The North Water Treatment Plant (NWTP) utilizes lime softening as the first stage of its treatment process. In this process, lime is added to raw water to remove hardness by precipitating dissolved minerals (primarily calcium and magnesium) out of solution. The resulting lime slurry, which contains the precipitated solids, must then be thickened and dewatered prior to offsite disposal. Effective and consistent dewatering is critical to minimizing hauling costs, maintaining regulatory compliance, and ensuring that the sludge handling systems operate reliably without bottlenecks.
The plant’s existing lime sludge press was originally procured as a used unit and installed in 2004. The press operates approximately 8-10 hours per day under continuous duty conditions. After more than two decades of service in a wet, abrasive, and highly corrosive environment, the equipment has reached the end of its useful life. Key components - including the screw conveyor, dewatering plates, bearings, and structural frame - exhibit severe wear and corrosion. As a result, the unit now requires frequent maintenance interventions and near-weekly repairs to remain operational. These recurring breakdowns increase staffing demands, elevate operational risk, and have the potential to disrupt sludge management if the unit becomes inoperable.
Evoqua Water Technologies is the original manufacturer of the existing sludge press and the sole authorized provider of compatible replacement units, proprietary components, and technical support for this equipment line. While other manufacturers produce sludge dewatering systems, Evoqua’s replacement press is the only model that fully integrates with the NWTP’s existing structural footprint, piping configuration, and control interface. Selecting a non-Evoqua system would require substantial facility modifications, increased installation complexity, and extended downtime.
City staff have reviewed Evoqua’s turnkey proposal for the design, procurement, and installation of a new lime sludge press. Based on the technical specifications, scope of work, and market conditions, staff have determined that the quoted price is fair, reasonable, and consistent with industry expectations for a project of this nature. Staff therefore recommends proceeding with a non-competitive procurement under the City Code of Ordinances, Article V, Division 2, Section 2-255(c), consistent with the following provisions:
• Section 2-255(c)(5): Maintenance and servicing of equipment by the manufacturer or authorized service agent of the equipment.
• Section 2-255(c)(7): Procurement of complete systems, equipment, parts, or replacements of specified make and models necessary to ensure interoperability, compatibility, or standardization.
• Section 2-255(c)(8): Circumstances in which competitive purchasing would not otherwise be in the best interest of the City.
Water and Sewer staff have secured a turnkey replacement proposal from Evoqua Water Technologies in the amount of $452,078.00. The project includes removal of the existing unit, installation of the new press, and all required mechanical and electrical connections. Replacing the aging equipment will significantly improve operational reliability, reduce ongoing maintenance costs, and enhance the efficiency and consistency of sludge dewatering operations at the NWTP.
FUNDING SOURCE / FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for this project is available in the approved FY 2026 Water & Sewer Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget under the Renewal, Replacement, and Improvement (RR&I) Fund 430.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC for the purchase and installation of a Filter Press, Model 1200N32-40-50SYLC, including all parts and labor, in the amount of $452,078.00.
POTENTIAL MOTION: “I move to authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Evoqua Water Technologies, LLC for the purchase and installation of a Filter Press, Model 1200N32-40-50SYLC, including all parts and labor, in the amount of $452,078.00.”