DATE: 11/05/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Honorable President and Board Members
FROM: Utilities Department
2025-427
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
CORONA UTILITY AUTHORITY ACTION
SUBJECT:
MAINTENANCE/GENERAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH XYLEM DEWATERING SOLUTIONS, INC., DBA WACHS WATER SERVICES FOR WATER SYSTEM VALVE
AND HYDRANT ASSESSMENT SERVICES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to execute a Maintenance/General Services Agreement (MGSA) with Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc., dba Wachs Water Services, for Water System Valve and Hydrant Assessment Services. Wachs will provide the Corona Utilities Department with water system valve and hydrant assessment services, which include exercising all valves for the potable and recyclable water distribution system and hydrants. Wachs will provide a comprehensive testing report and Information Management Program to the City of Corona.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Authorize a bid award with Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc., dba Wachs Water Services in the amount of $600,000 for Water System Valve and Hydrant Assessment Services pursuant to Corona Municipal Code Section 3.08.140(C) Competitive bidding already completed.
b. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to negotiate and execute the Maintenance/General Services Agreement with Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc., dba Wachs Water Services in the amount of $600,000 per fiscal year for the initial contract term ending June 30, 2027, with one optional two-year renewal. c. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Maintenance/General Services Agreement with Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc., dba Wachs Water Services in the amount of $600,000 including any non-substantive extensions, change orders, purchase orders, and amendment up to the amount authorized in Corona Municipal Code Section 3.08.070(I) which is equivalent to 10% or $60,000. d. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to issue a purchase order to Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc., dba Wachs Water Services in the amount of $600,000 per fiscal year for the initial contract term ending June 30, 2027, with one optional two-year renewal.
That the Corona Utility Authority review, ratify, and to the extent necessary, direct that the City Council take the above actions.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
Corona’s water system infrastructure is a complex network that requires ongoing, specialized maintenance to ensure reliable service delivery and regulatory compliance.
The Utilities Department (UD) has established a comprehensive management plan for the testing, maintenance, and assessment of all water system valves and hydrants, which are critical components for isolating or shutting down sections of the potable and recycled water distribution systems during emergencies or routine repairs. UD’s infrastructure includes approximately 600 miles of potable water mains, over 43,000 potable water service connections, more than 20,000 valves, and nearly 9,000 hydrants, as well as a reclaimed water system with over 60 miles of reclaimed water mains with additional valves and hydrants. This extensive system supports the delivery of high-quality drinking water and recycled water to residents and businesses throughout the community.
UD has historically entered into multi-year service agreements with qualified contractors for valve exercising, assessment, and information management. UD's standard operating procedures, which align with industry’s best practices, recommend that all system valves be exercised annually, or at a minimum every two years. This is to ensure operational readiness and to reduce the risk of valve failure during critical events.
In 2023, Wachs Water Services was awarded a contract for these services, which included the exercising and maintenance of both hydrants and valves. This contract concluded on June 30, 2025. In July 2025, UD issued an Exception to Bid to temporarily extend Wachs' services until June 30, 2026. This extension, with a not-to-exceed limit of $100,000, was granted to ensure the continued maintenance of critical valves while the formal bidding process was completed.
ANALYSIS:
On June 16, 2025, the City of Norco published a request for proposals for a multi-year Water System Valve and Hydrant Assessment Services and received (2) two bids. City of Norco staff determined that Wachs Water Services can successfully provide the level of services required at a reasonable cost.
UD staff evaluated the City of Norco’s proposal and determined that it meets and is in line with UD’s valve exercising program requirements. Staff believes that Competitive Bidding has been accomplished for these purchases pursuant to Corona Municipal Code Section
3.08.140(C), which states as follows:
“Competitive Bidding already completed.” When the purchasing agent and the authorized contracting party, with the approval of the City Manager, determines that: A competitive bid procedure has been conducted by another public agency.
Wachs’ scope of work and pricing is shown below.
Item Description Unit QTY Xylem
Dewatering
Solutions,
Inc. dba Wachs
Water
Services
Valve
King, Inc.
1 Perform Water Valve Assessment,
Testing and Survey including GPS
EA 1 $63.20 $99
2 Raise Valve Boxes to Grade in
Dirt, Grass, and or Gravel
Areas (<=12")
EA 1 $102 $250
3 Raise Valve Boxes to Grade in
Asphalt Paved Areas (<=12")
EA 1 $200 $400
4 Mobilization EA 1 $500 $2,500
5 Perform Fire Hydrant Assessment,
Testing and Survey including
GPS
EA 1 $66.05 $110
6 Perform Large Water Valve
Assessment, Testing and Survey
including GPS: Valves (>=16")
EA 1 $244 $250
7 Perform Reclaimed System Water
Valve Assessment, Testing
and Survey including GPS
EA 1 $63.20 $99
8 Perform GPS and Documentation
of non-operated
appurtenances
EA 1 $13.20 $99
Item Description Unit QTY Xylem
Dewatering
Solutions,
Inc. dba Wachs
Water
Services
Valve
King, Inc.
9 Hourly Crew Rate EA 1 $249 $250
UD Staff is requesting City Council consideration on approving the Maintenance/General Services Agreement (MGSA) with Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc., dba Wachs Water Services to provide Water System Distribution Valve and Hydrant Assessment, Testing, and Information Management Program services to the City of Corona.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for the recommended action is available in the Fiscal Year 2026 Utilities Department Operating Budget within the Water Utility Fund 570 and Reclaimed Water Utility Fund 567. Future fiscal year funding requests will be evaluated and submitted through the annual budget process.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the CEQA determination, and is therefore exempt from CEQA. This action involves exercising of all valves for potable and recyclable water distribution system and hydrants. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: ERIN KUNKLE, MAINTENANCE MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: TOM MOODY, UTILITIES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Xylem Dewatering Solutions, Inc., dba Wachs Water Services MGSA
2. Exhibit 2 – City of Norco Contract, Pricing Form, and Proposal