Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: Main Flushing and Water Treatment Services for the Water Distribution System Date: December 13, 2022
Written by: Craig Scott, Director of Public Works/City Engineer Recommendation
It is recommended the City of Cotati City Council by motion approve an amendment to the Standard Service Agreement with No-Des, Inc., to complete the intended extent of water main flushing services.
Background
The City owns and operates a public drinking water system and is regulated by the State Water Resources Control Board. Proper maintenance of the water system requires regular flushing of the distribution system and particularly the pipelines with low points and dead ends. The flushing maintains water clarity and discharges sediment that may collect in the system.
Analysis/Discussion
On October 25, 2022, City Council approved an agreement with No-Des, Inc. to provide main flushing services. The main flushing services provide a close-system water cleaning operation where minimal water is wasted – of heightened importance during the current multi-year drought.
Mid-way through the flushing operation (5 of the 10 days total), No-Des has gone through 600 filters and is projected to need a total of 1,236 to complete flushing through December 16, 2022.
The approved service contract accounted for 300 filters and, at $30.66 each (includes tax), the additional 936 filters increase the service contract amount by $28,698. In addition, the filters are available at the No-Des warehouse in New Mexico and transporting costs are $3,500, to get them on-site by Monday (12/12/2022). Therefore, rounding up, the total requested increase is $33,000.
Main flushing is providing a critical service to the operation of the distribution system and due to No-Des being in high demand across the country, it is difficult to schedule their services. However, because they are mobilized, No-Des has confirmed they will remain in Cotati through the 16th if sufficient filters are provided. Without approval, the City has the option of cutting the days short and not completing the intended main flushing scope and restart main flushing with City crews discharging water to the storm drain in January. With approval, the main flushing would continue through the 16th and flushing would not be conducted again until late summer or early fall next year.
Financial Considerations
The City’s adopted FY22/23 Budget includes $60,000 for main flushing contract services which was based on a prior quote received in 2021. The October 2022, Council action increased the main flushing budget by $9,650 to $69,650. City Staff is requesting an additional $33,000 be added for a total revised project budget of $102,650. These additional funds will be appropriated, and budget reclassified by reducing the budget for the following accounts:
- Reduce budget for account 401-00-82020-000000- Backflow by $16,000 which is available due to savings available by contracting with a new backflow testing provider. - Reduce budget for account 401-00-80572-000000- R&M Vehicle Replacement by $17,000 which is available due to the delay of procurement of the replacement vehicles for public works. It is anticipated that the vehicle will be budgeted for again in the next fiscal year.
As such no additional funding sources are required for approval by City Council at this time.
Environmental Issues
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378.
Attachments:
Revised Cost Estimate (PDF)