Agenda Item: 15(e)
Prepared By: Jeffrey E. Poteet, General Manager, Water & Sewer
Business: City Council Item
Department: Water & Sewer
Subject:
Title
Authorize the Interim City Manager to Issue a Purchase Order to Toray Membrane USA, Inc. for Replacing 180 Reverse Osmosis (RO) Membranes at the South Water Treatment Plant (SWTP) in the Amount of $83,452.36 - Jeffrey E. Poteet, General Manager, Water & Sewer Department.
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BACKGROUND:
Approximately 30 percent of the City's drinking water demand is supplied by the Southwest Water Treatment Plant (SWTP), which treats brackish groundwater using a reverse osmosis (RO) membrane treatment process. RO treatment relies on semi-permeable membranes that remove dissolved salts and other impurities by applying pressure to force water through the membranes while rejecting contaminants.
The RO membrane system consists of six (6) one-million-gallon-per-day membrane trains. Each train includes thirty (30) pressure vessels, and each vessel contains six (6) tightly spiral-wound RO membrane elements. Over time, RO membranes become fouled and deteriorate, reducing system efficiency and increasing the energy required to produce the same volume of finished water. RO membranes typically have a service life of approximately eight (8) to ten (10) years. Accordingly, annual funding for membrane replacement is included in the Water and Sewer Capital Improvement Program (CIP) budget.
Based on current membrane performance and condition, one train consisting of 180 RO membrane elements, approximately ten (10) years old, has reached the end of its useful life and requires replacement to ensure continued reliable operation and maintain production capacity.
The existing RO membranes are manufactured and supplied by Toray Membrane USA, Inc. To maintain compatibility with the existing infrastructure, instrumentation and control systems, and established operating procedures, staff request City Council approval to utilize non-competitiv...
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