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Agenda Item: 16(d) |
Prepared By: Jeffrey E. Poteet, General Manager |
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Business: City Council Item |
Department: Water and Sewer |
Subject:
Title
Award of Contract to Black & Veatch to Conduct an Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) Conversion Evaluation of the City’s Reclaimed Water Production Facility in the Amount of $182,959.00 – Jeffrey E. Poteet, General Manager, Water & Sewer Department
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BACKGROUND:
The City of Marco Island currently operates a Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) treatment process at its Reclaimed Water Production Facility (RWPF), with a permitted average daily flow of 4.92 million gallons per day. While the RWPF currently meets or exceeds the regulatory standards for public access irrigation, it does not meet the more stringent criteria required for Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) as defined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
At the July 7, 2025, City Council meeting, Council directed the City Manager to pursue an RFP to assess the cost of upgrading the facility from Advanced Secondary Wastewater Treatment to full AWT, in alignment with the Grizzle-Figg statute. This direction was further refined during the July 21, 2025 Council meeting, during which staff presented the procurement approach and proposed scope of work. The draft scope was also presented to the Waterways Advisory Committee on August 21, 2025, and no changes were requested.
Following City Council’s direction, staff solicited a formal proposal from Black & Veatch to conduct a comprehensive engineering evaluation of potential upgrade alternatives to achieve Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) standards at the RWPF. Black & Veatch is a globally recognized, full-service engineering consulting firm that is currently included in the City’s Continuing Services Library - a pool of pre-qualified firms selected through a prior Request for Qualifications (RFQ) process. This evaluation will help determine the feasibility, cost, and regulatory implications of upgrading the RWPF to meet the following AWT effluent standards:
(All values based on annual averages)
The scope of the evaluation includes the following core components:
- Facility Assessment
Review of the RWPF’s existing design, layout, equipment, and treatment performance, using recent Capacity Analysis and O&M reports.
- Regulatory Compliance Evaluation
Verification of current and future effluent discharge requirements, with emphasis on meeting AWT-level nutrient reduction goals.
- Treatment Alternatives Analysis
Evaluation of four treatment configurations designed to reduce Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus.
- Cost Analysis
Conceptional development of cost estimates for both capital and operating expenditures.
- Reporting and Presentation
Delivery of a draft and final Alternative Evaluation Report, with an optional presentation to City Council summarizing key findings and recommendations.
Schedule and Costs
The proposed schedule anticipates that this effort will take 190 days from the notice to proceed to completion of the final report at a cost of $177,245.00. Additionally, for a cost of $5,714.00 the engineer will present their findings to City Council, bring the total cost proposal to $182,959.00.
Pending City Council approval, Black & Veatch will proceed with the evaluation to support informed decision-making regarding the RWPF’s potential upgrade to AWT standards. Staff will work closely with the consultant to ensure the consultant meets the City Council’s goals and expectations.
FUNDING SOURCE / FISCAL IMPACT: This is an unfunded/unbudgeted effort directed by City Council; therefore, the funding for this project will come from the Water and Sewer unrestricted reserves. Currently, there is approximately $7.5M available in the Water and Sewer unrestricted reserves.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Black & Veatch to Conduct an Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) Conversion Evaluation of the City’s Reclaimed Water Production Facility in the Amount of $182,959.00.
POTENTIAL MOTION: “Authorize the City Manager to execute a contract with Black & Veatch to Conduct an Advanced Wastewater Treatment (AWT) Conversion Evaluation of the City’s Reclaimed Water Production Facility in the Amount of $182,959.00.”