DATE: June 16, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Director of Public Works
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution Approving the Plans and Specifications and Use of Certain Sole Source Products in the Plans and Specifications , and Calling for Bids for Construction of the Effluent Channel Return Pump Station Project for the Water Resource Recovery Facility’s (WRRF), Project No. 07806
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council adopts the attached resolution (Attachment II) approving the plans and specifications and use of certain sole source products for the WRRF ’s Effluent Channel Return Pump Station Project (Project), Project No. 07806, and calling for construction bids to be received on July 21, 2026.
SUMMARY
The WRRF treats an average flow of approximately 11 million gallons per day (MGD) and meets current regulatory requirements for discharge of treated effluent to the deep waters of San Francisco Bay.
During storm events, influent flows can exceed the WRRF’s discharge capacity, requiring temporary storage of treated wastewater in the facility’s storage ponds. Timely return of stored water from the ponds to the chlorination channel is essential to restore available pond capacity and maintain readiness for continuing or subsequent storms. Increased pumping capacity is therefore n ecessary to improve wet -weather flow management, reduce operational risk, and strengthen system resiliency during peak events.
Hydroscience Engineers has completed the design of a new return pumping station at Pond 4 that will increase pumping capacity from the existing 1 MGD system to 3 MGD. Design plans, specifications, and bidding documents have been prepared. Staff is requesting City Council approval to advertise the calling for bids to be received on July 21, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT
There will be no impact on the General Fund or Measure C.
The FY 2027 Capital Improvement Project (CIP) includes funding for the Project in the Sewer Replacement Fund (Fund 611) and Sewer Improvement Fund (Fund 612), shown in Table 1 below.
Table 1
Fund Project
No.
Description Budget
611 07806 WRRF Effluent Channel Return Pump
Improvements
$580,000
612 07806 WRRF Effluent Channel Return Pump
Improvements
$580,000
Total $1,160,000
The estimated project costs are as follows:
Total Project Cost
Engineering Services (Consultant) $74,778
Engineering Services During Construction (Consultant) $20,000 Construction Contract $1,190,000
Construction Contingency (10% of Construction Contract) $ 119,000 City Staff Time $64,222
Total $ 1,468,000
The construction cost shown above is an estimate and is higher than the current number listed in the CIP once contingency and soft costs are included. This is primarily due to revisions in the project design that enhance maintenance and operations of the f acility.
Should, based on actual low bid, the construction cost exceed the funds currently allocated in the CIP, staff will request that additional funds be appropriated to cover the additional cost
BACKGROUND
At the western end of the WRRF, the City used to operate seven oxidation ponds. Two of the ponds have been filled, and the remaining five no longer function as active oxidation ponds.
The remaining ponds currently function as storage facilities for the treated wastewater.
The City is a member of the East Bay Dischargers Authority (EBDA), a joint powers authority that operates a common sewer outfall shared by several other sewer agencies. Under the latest version of EBDA’s Joint Powers Agreement, the City is permitted to discharge up to 15 MGD to EBDA’s pipeline. During the dry season and most other times , this is sufficient for discharging all of Hayward’s wastewater. However, during major storm events, flows
exceeding 15 MGD are diverted to the former oxidation ponds for temporary storage . As treatment and discharge capacity becomes available, the stored water is pumped back to the channel restoring available storage capacity in the ponds for future storm events.
The current total pumping capacity of 1.0 MGD has been demonstrated to be insufficient during major storm events.
To improve system resiliency, increase wet -weather pumping capacity, and enhance the facility’s preparedness for future storm events, an upgrade to the pump station is proposed.
As part of the upgrade, larger -diameter piping and a new pump platform to accommodate the new equipment and associated instrumentation. The system will include variable frequency drives (VFDs) for adjustable pumping rates. The existing spare buckets in the motor control center (MCC) in the chlorination building will be utilized for new pump breakers, while the VFDs will be installed locally near the pumps. The new pumping system will also be integrated into the plant’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisiti on (SCADA) system to improve monitoring and operational control.
The project is scheduled to solicit bids on June 22, 2026, with bid proposals due on July 21, 2026. Construction is anticipated to begin in September 2026 and expected to be completed in May 2027.
On June 24, 2025, Council approved the revised Community Workforce Agreement (CWA) with the Alameda County Building Trades Council (BTC), which applies to City projects with a construction cost estimate of $1,000,000 or more. The agreement requires contractors to use local union hiring halls and encourages contractors to employ Hayward residents or Hayward Unified School District graduates. The CWA agreement applies to this Project because the construction cost estimate is more than $1,000,000.
DISCUSSION
The primary objective of the P roject is to increase pumping capacity to allow pond water levels to be reduced in a timely manner, thereby restoring available storage capacity for ongoing and future storm events.
The existing 0.5-MGD pumps, along with their associated electrical conduit, are aging assets that will require replacement or decommissioning in the future. The proposed improvements include a new electrical system, new conduit, upgraded pumps, and new piping. One of the existing pumps may remain in service for supplemental use for as long as it remains reliable; however, the new pumping system is designed to independently meet operational needs. The upgraded system may also support the planned Nature -Based Solutions (NBS) project, which aims to help reduce nutrients in the treated wastewater effluent and is currently in the preliminary design phase, and could be utilized more frequently under that future condition.
Construction is scheduled during the dry season to minimize operational risk and facilitate safe installation. The work will require close coordination between plant operations staff,
engineering staff, the contractor, and the design consultant throughout the construction period.
The project includes civil, mechanical, and electrical improvements along the levee access road, excavation through the levee, and in -channel work within the effluent channel.
Performing the work during the dry season will provide sufficient time to lower pond water levels and isolate the construction area using cofferdams. A new pump platform will be constructed for the proposed pumps, and a new underground electrical conduit will be installed along the levee and chlorination building corridor to connect the local pump control panel to the building MCC and programmable logic controller (PLC). The pump suction piping will consist of approximately 90 feet of floating HDPE pipe within the pond, while the discharge piping will consist of ductile iron pipe routed through the levee and discharging into the effluent channel.
The system will include VFDs for adjustable pumping rates. The existing spare buckets in the MCC in the chlorination disinfection building will be utilized for new pump breakers, while the VFDs will be installed locally near the pumps. The new pumping system will also be integrated into the plant’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to improve monitoring and operational control.
SOLE SOURCE ITEMS
As this project is a City facility, some items will be specified with no equal s so as to match similar items used at other City facilities as well as other components on site. The Public Contract Code prohibits “calling for a designated material, product, thing, or service by specific brand or trade name unless the specification is followed by the words “or equal.” This ensures competitive bidding and potentially lower cost to taxpayers. The Public Contract Code Section 3400(c) allows a particular material, product, thing, or service to be designated by specific brand or trade name for the following purpose(s):
(1) In order that a field test or experiment may be made to determine the product’s suitability for future use.
(2) In order to match other products in use on a particular public improvement either completed or in the course of completion.
(3) In order to obtain a necessary item that is only available from one source.
(4) In order to respond to an emergency declared by a local agency.
The majority of the materials, products, and services specified for this project are either performance based or include specific brands and follow by the “or equal” clause; however, there are several products and services that will be specified with speci fic brands only without the “or equal” clause since these are essential to the project. The following items will be sole sourced so that brands other than the ones specified below will not be considered:
• Self-Priming pumps shall be Gorman Rupp T series so as to ensure consistency and compatibility with other self-priming pumps onsite.
• VFDs shall be Allen Bradley Powerflex 755 so as to match other variable frequency drives at the WRRF site.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
Providing adequate pumping capacity to return stored effluent from the ponds to the chlorination channel during storm events is a long -term investment in the reliability and operational effectiveness of the treatment system. The improvements will help redu ce the likelihood of costly emergency response measures, minimize operational challenges during peak wet-weather events, and eliminate the potential need for temporary pumping systems under critical conditions.
The new pumping system may also provide future operational value by supporting the planned NBS project, which is currently in the design phase.
STRATEGIC ROADMAP
The project falls under “Invest in Infrastructure” of the City Strategic Roadmap.
• Invest in Water Supplies, Sanitation Infrastructure & Storm Sewers
SUSTAINABILITY FEATURES
Replacement of the existing aging, low -capacity pumping system with a modern, higher - capacity system will improve the long-term reliability and resilience of WRRF’s wet-weather flow management infrastructure. The upgraded system will reduce the risk of equipment failure during storm events and decrease the potential for pond overtopping or uncontrolled discharges to adjacent public marshlands and waterways.
The project will enhance operational sustainability by providing more consistent and efficient pond drawdown capacity, allowing available storage volume to be restored more quickly for subsequent storm events. Use of VFDs will improve energy efficiency by matching pump output to operational demand, reducing unnecessary power consumption and equipment wear.
In addition, the improvements support regulatory compliance, protect surrounding environmental resources, and provide adaptable infrastructure that may be integrated with future facility initiatives, including the planned NBS project.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Because of the location and size of the project, it does not impose any public impact. The information about the project is publicly available on the city website’s CIP list.
NEXT STEPS
If City Council approves the project, staff will advertise the construction project for public bidding and return to Council for the award of the construction contract, after construction bids have been received and reviewed.
The following schedule has been developed for this project:
Prepared by: Kevin Kaveh, Assistant Civil Engineer
Reviewed by Kyle Carbert, Principal Utilities Engineer
Recommended by: Alex Ameri, Director of Public Works
Approved by:
_______________________________
Jennifer Ott, City Manager
Award Construction Contract Aug 18, 2026
Notice to Proceed Aug/Sep 2026
Project Completion May 2027