Agenda — Arvin City Council, August 26, 2025 (part 3 of 3)

Staff Report – Work Authorization with Veolia for Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project.

CITY OF ARVIN
Staff Report
Meeting Date: August 26, 2025
TO: Arvin City Council
FROM: Samuel Lux, P.E., City Engineer
Jeff Jones, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approval of A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Arvin Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Work Authorization with Veolia Water North America for the Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project.

BACKGROUND:

The influent wet well at the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is a critical component of the collection and treatment system. It receives all incoming wastewater flows and distributes them through influent pumps into the treatment process.

The plant is currently functioning through the use of a single screw pump to distribute effluent throughout the facility. The wet well pumps serve as pressure relief for the screw pump and as backup pumping capacity when the screw pump is taken offline for repairs. Without operational wet well pumps, the City faces increased risk of process interruption and potential sanitary sewer overflows should the screw pump fail.

During inspection and operation, significant deterioration of piping, pumping equipment, and the wet well structure was observed. Immediate repair is required to avoid failures that could result in operational shutdowns, sanitary sewer overflows, or violations of State Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs).

At the July 22, 2025 City Council meeting, Veolia Water North America, the City’s WWTP operator, presented the Influent Wet Well Repair as a priority capital project for immediate implementation.

The scope of work includes replacement of deteriorated piping, replacement of two influent pumps, concrete repair, and application of protective coatings to restore the wet well to reliable operating condition.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:

The project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301(b) – Existing Facilities as it involves the repair and maintenance of an existing public facility with no expansion of use.

6.C.1
Attachment: Staff Report - Veolia Work Authorization for WWTP Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project_082625 [Revision 1] (WWTP Work

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Staff Report – Work Authorization with Veolia for Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

The total cost for the Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project is $359,110. Funding is available in the City’s Wastewater Enterprise Fund budget for FY 2025–26. No General Fund impact is anticipated.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to sign the Work Authorization with Veolia Water North America for the Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project in the amount of $359,110.

ATTACHMENTS:
• Resolution Authorizing City Manager to Sign Work Authorization • Veolia July 2025 Capital Project Presentation
• Draft Work Authorization

6.C.1
Attachment: Staff Report - Veolia Work Authorization for WWTP Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project_082625 [Revision 1] (WWTP Work Reso to Approve WWTP Work Authorization for Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project.

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RESOLUTION NO. ________

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARVIN

AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A WORK

AUTHORIZATION WITH VEOLIA WATER NORTH AMERICA FOR
THE EMERGENCY INFLUENT WET WELL REPAIR PROJECT.

WHEREAS, the City of Arvin contracts with Veolia Water North America for the operation and maintenance of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP); and WHEREAS, the influent wet well is a critical structure that receives all incoming wastewater and directs it into the treatment process; and WHEREAS, inspection and operation of the influent wet well revealed significant deterioration of piping, pumps, and structural components requiring immediate repair; and WHEREAS, Veolia presented the Influent Wet Well Repair Project at the July 22, 2025 City Council meeting as a priority capital project for immediate implementation; and WHEREAS, Public Contract Code Section 1102 defines an emergency as "a sudden unexpected occurrence that poses a clear and imminent danger, requiring immediate action to prevent or mitigate the loss or impairment of life, health, property, or essential public services"; and
WHEREAS, Public Contract Code Section 22050(a)(l) states, "In the case of an emergency, a public agency, pursuant to a four-fifths vote of its governing body may repair or replace a public facility, take any directly related and immediate action required by that emergency, and procure the necessary equipment, services, and supplies for those purposes, without giving notice for bids to let contracts"; and
WHEREAS, City staff recommends authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Work Authorization with Veolia in the amount of $359,110; and WHEREAS, funding is available in the City’s Wastewater Enterprise Fund for FY 2025–

26. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the city council of the City of Arvin as follows:

1. The condition of the Influent Wet Well constitutes an “emergency” under Public Contracts Code Section 1102 and 2050.

2. The City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Work Authorization with Veolia Water North America for the Influent Wet Well Repair Project in the amount of $359,110.

6.C.2
Attachment: Reso - Veolia Work Authorization for WWTP Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project_082625 [Revision 1] (WWTP Work Reso to Approve WWTP Work Authorization for Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project.

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3. The City Council finds that this project is categorically exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301 (Existing Facilities).

I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Arvin at a regular meeting thereof held on the 26th day of August 2025 by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSTAIN:

ABSENT:

ATTEST
CECILIA VELA, City Clerk

CITY OF ARVIN
By:

OLIVIA CALDERON, Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM:

By:

STEPHANIE GUTIERREZ, City Attorney
I, ________________________, City Clerk of the City of Arvin, California, DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and accurate copy of the Resolution passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Arvin on the date and by the vote indicated herein.

6.C.2
Attachment: Reso - Veolia Work Authorization for WWTP Emergency Influent Wet Well Repair Project_082625 [Revision 1] (WWTP Work

6.C.3
Attachment: Arvin CA - CPM projects - July 2025 (WWTP Work Authorizations for

6.C.3
Attachment: Arvin CA - CPM projects - July 2025 (WWTP Work Authorizations for TASK

AUTHORIZATION
Arvin WWTP - Emergency Influent Wet Well Piping Repairs Date: 6/13/25
Activity Classification
(Check applicable)
Administration x VWNA Project #: TBD
Engineering
Planning Proposed by:

Design x Chandrasekar Venkatraman President CPM, VNA
Construction x
Construction Approved by:

Sanitary Sewer Aaditya Raman, President O&M, VNA
Storm Sewer
Sanitary P.S. Reviewed by:

Storm P.S. City of Arvin, Jeff Jones, City Manager
Wastewater x
Other (specify below)
Approval Date:

Project Cost: $294,403.55
Markup: $49,986.35
5% Contingency: $14,720.00
Total Authorized Amt.: $359,109.91
Scope of Services
On June 18, 2024, one of the influent wet well discharge pipes at the Wastewater Treatment Plant burst (inside the wetwell) . There are two influent pumps that discharge into the wetwell. The wet well supports the split of the influent flow between the Oxidation Ditch and the Orbal and helps manage the collection system's level. Corrosion appears to be the reason for the problem due to the conditions inside the infrastructure, which create high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide gas (H2S). Records show that, as per the drawings dated September 15, 1998, this infrastructure and material inside the wet well have been in place for approximately 24 years from the final construction date in 2000 with the plant upgrade. This issue raises several safety and operational concerns. The attached pictures show the deterioration and corrosion of the piping and that the pump railing guides also show signs of corrosion.

To mitigate the impact on the wet well with the burst discharge pipe, the associated pump is locked out and tagged out (out of service), making the second pump the only one in operation. If the second pump happens to fail during the time the first pump is out of service, running the first pump with a damaged discharge pipe will not be an option since the pipe has burst, which could result in additional damage to the concrete inside the wet well, causing repairs to be more expensive.

This project is considered an emergency due to the criticality in which, if pump two fails leaving no pumps operational, that will require many long hours of monitoring the plant 24 hours to avoid sanitary sewer overflows (SSO's).

Veolia reached out to three contractors to solicit proposals for this work but have only received one response, as the other contractors are too busy to provide a proposal at this time; it will not be wise to continue waiting. Per the Veolia Operations contract Section 5.01 VWWOS Scope of Service (m) and Section 5.02 Sewage Collection System we request to move forward with repairs at this time.

To perform this emergency replacement of the 6-inch discharge piping for both corroded discharge pipes and guiderails, the wetwell will have to be bypassed during the work. The Contractor will have to utilize a vactor truck to remove solids from the wet well so they can pressure wash the inside using confined space safety methods and ventiliation. The piping that needs to be replaced goes through the concrete, therefore the Contractor will cut and remove the existing rotted piping and guiderails and replace with new guiderails, 6-inch coated piping in the wetwell, flanges, gaskets, and bolts.

The replacement of both pumps is included in this scope of work as well, due to their age and condition.

Veolia Operations will be handling the bypass of the wet well during the course of construction as detailed below:

1. The gate can be closed to isolate the wet well.

2. Veolia Operations has a pump and hoses to pump what is in the wet well.

3. Any solids in wet well will need to be removed with vactor truck and disposed of at the plant. (included in Contractor quote) Veolia Water West Operating Services, Inc. will provide the following services to provide and install a new generator at the City of Arvin Wastewater Treatement Plant.

1. Request contractor/vendor proposals to perform the work. (COMPLETED)

2. Issue Subcontract and Purchase Order to Mariott Welding Inc. to perform the emergency work.

3. Provide Project and Construction management and start up support and oversight to monitor the bypass and installation and test the new piping.

4. A 5% contingency has been included in the total cost for any unforeseen conditions. Any unused Contingency funds will revert to the City at the end of the project.

Except as set forth in this Task Authorization, this Task Authorization shall be governed by that certain Amended and Restated Wastewater Treatment Facility Engineering Services Agreement, dated as of October 4, 2016, between Veolia Water West Operating Services, Inc. and the City of Arvin, California (as amended, the "Agreement"). The work to be performed under this Task Authorization is a Capital Project, and this Task Authorization constitutes an agreement between the City and VWWOS with respect to such Capital Project as set forth in Section 5.04 of the Agreement. Any capitalized terms used in this Task Authorization that are not otherwise defined will have the same definition given to such terms in the Agreement.

Attachments

1. Veolia proposal letter and cost spreadsheet.

2. Proposal from Mariott Welding Inc. (Contractor) dated 6/9/25

3. Photos of deteriorated conditions inside wet well and bursted piping