City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: OCTOBER 4, 2022 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL
SUBJECT: EMERGENCY PURCHASE ORDER AND SERVICE AGREEMENT FOR TEMPORARY RENTAL OF A BELT PRESS AND DEWATERING SERVICES TO TRANSPORT AND DISPOSE BIOSOLIDS FOR THE RIVERSIDE REGIONAL WATER QUALITY CONTROL PLANT WITH SYNAGRO-WWT, INC. OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, IN THE AMOUNT OF $311,320 ISSUE:
Approve an Emergency Purchase Order and Service Agreement for Temporary Press Rental and Dewatering Services with SYNAGRO-WWT, INC. of Baltimore, Maryland in the amount of of $311,320.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve an Emergency Purchase Order for the Temporary Press Rental and Dewatering Services, an urgent necessity to protect the public health, welfare, safety, and property in accordance with the Purchasing Resolution No. 23812 Section 301(c), with SYNAGRO-WWT, INC. of Baltimore, Maryland in the amount of $311,320; Confirm or Ratify Service Agreement with SYNAGRO-WWT, INC., of Baltimore, Maryland, in the amount of $311,302 for the Temporary Belt Press Rental and Dewatering Services through December 31, 2022; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Service Agreement with SYNAGRO-WWT, INC., including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Riverside Public Works Department, Wastewater Division, is responsible for the collection, conveyance, and treatment of wastewater for over 93,000 customers within City limits. The facilities consist of over 800 miles of gravity sewers, 400 miles of City laterals, 20 wastewater lift stations, 16,000 sewer manholes, and the Riverside Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) which has the capacity to treat 46 million gallons per day. Additionally, under agreements with the City, the RWQCP provides wastewater treatment for the Edgemont, Jurupa, and Rubidoux Community Services Districts and the unincorporated community of Highgrove. To satisfy the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, wastewater must be treated to achieve regulatory water quality standards. The RWQCP treatment processes requires biosolids to be dewatered and dried and hauled off site for disposal.
DISCUSSION:
On July 23, 2022, the RWQCP experienced a catastrophic failure of the Centrysis centrifuge, a key piece of equipment used to dewater sludge. With the failure of this piece of equipment, the RWQCP is not capable of processing the required 170 gallons per minute of sludge to maintain constant operations and is forced to retain sludge onsite. Short-term impacts of retaining sludge are increased odors and higher solids concentrations throughout the treatment process. Possible long-term impacts are an increase in Biological Oxygen Demand and Final Combined Effluent permit exceedances. This may be detrimental to public health, welfare, safety, and property if not disposed of promptly.
To prevent significant violations, staff is requesting the City Council to approve the requested emergency purchase order and ratify the service agreement, which are necessary to continue to comply with federal, state, regional, and local wastewater regulatory requirements.
Purchasing Resolution No. 23812, Section 301 states, “An ‘emergency’ shall be deemed to exist under any one or more of the following circumstances: …(c) A breakdown in machinery, facilities or essential services which requires the immediate Procurement of Goods, Services or Construction to protect the public health, welfare, safety, property, or personal/confidential information”. The breakdown in machinery and essential services requires the RWQCP to conduct an urgent purchase order.
The Purchasing Manager concurs that the action to approve is in compliance with Purchasing Resolution No. 23812.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT:
This item contributes to Strategic Priority 4 - Environmental Stewardship and Goal 4.2 – Sustainably manage local water resources to maximize reliability and advanced water reuse to ensure safe, reliable, and affordable water to our community.
The item aligns with each of the five Cross-Cutting Threads as follows:
Community Trust – Conducting regular wastewater treatment ensures wastewater discharges do not negatively impact the community and environment. The RWQCP requires the dewatering of biosolids prior to hauling off site to comply with federal, state, regional and local regulatory requirements.
Equity – The outside assistance and temporary rental of equipment supports the RWQCP’s efforts in protecting the public’s health and environment by ensuring wastewater treatment is performed efficiently in compliance with regulatory requirements.
Fiscal Responsibility – The temporary rental of this equipment supports the RWQCP’s efforts in minimizing inefficiencies and develop control methods to maximize reliability and ensure efficient wastewater treatment.
Innovation – The renting of this equipment exemplifies a collaborative partnership between SYNAGRO-WWT, INC. of Baltimore, Maryland, to enhance operational reliability by achieving measurable improvements through proper wastewater treatment.
Sustainability & Resiliency – The rental of this equipment supports the implementation of sustainability to treat wastewater that is generated within the City of Riverside and the communities of Edgemont, Highgrove, Jurupa, and Rubidoux at the Riverside Water Quality Control Plant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of the action is $311,320. Sufficient funds are budgeted and available in Sewer Fund, Sewer Systems-Treatment, Refuse/Disposal Fees account number 4125200-422700.
Prepared by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Edward Enriquez, Interim Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer/City Treasurer
Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Attachment: Services Agreement
Biosolids Emergency PO and Service Agreement ● Page 3