7/23/2026
1 RiversideCA.gov1
RiversideCA.gov
RIVERSIDE WATER QUALITY CONTROL PLANT CHEMICAL PURCHASES City CouncilAugust 11, 2026Public Works Department RiversideCA.gov2
Treatment Plant Collections SystemBACKGROUNDThe RWQCP services 93,000 customers within the City of Riverside27Million gallonsper day average16,000 sewer manholes 800 miles of gravity sewers
20 wastewater lift stations
BACKGROUND
7/23/2026
2 RiversideCA.gov3
•The Riverside Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP), managed by the Public Works Wastewater Division, oversees wastewater collection and treatment for Riverside and surrounding communities: oEdgemont, Highgrove, Jurupa Valley, and Rubidoux. •To satisfy the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, the wastewater must be treated to comply with water quality standards. •The treatment process relies on various chemicals to achieve the required water quality.BACKGROUND RiversideCA.gov4
•Under Section 602 of Purchasing Resolution No. 24101, chemicals are items ‘peculiar to the needs of the Water Utility, the Electric Utility, and the Sewer Utility and may be acquired by informal Procurement or Negotiated Procurement, regardless of their estimated Procurement expenditure amounts, providing it is in the best interest of the City to do so.•Staff conducted a general market analysis comparing price ranges of current vendors to other businesses who offer similar goods.•The Purchasing Manager concurs that the recommended actions are compliant with Purchasing Resolution No. 24101.DISCUSSION 7/23/2026
3 RiversideCA.gov5
FISCAL IMPACTCostChemicalVendor$300,000Citric AcidNorthstar Chemical$1,917,176Ferric ChlorideKemira Water Solutions, Inc.$1,358,256Sodium BisulfiteUnivar USA, Inc.$2,520,419Sodium HypochloritePioneer Americas, LLC$6,095,851Total FY 2026/2027 Chemical Cost RiversideCA.gov6
That the City Council:1. Approve an annual Purchase Order with Northstar Chemical of Santa Fe Springs, California, for citric acid in the amount $300,000;2. Approve an annual Purchase Order with Kemira Water Solutions, Inc., of Fontana, California, for ferric chloride in the amount of $1,917,176;3. Approve an annual Purchase Order with Univar USA, Inc., of Kent, Washington, for sodium bisulfite in the amount of $1,358,256;RECOMMENDATIONS 7/23/2026
4 RiversideCA.gov7
4. Approve an annual Purchase Order with Pioneer Americas, LLC., of Wilmington, Delaware, for sodium hypochlorite in the amount of $2,520,419; and5. Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute purchase orders, or other documents with Northstar Chemical, Kemira Water Solutions, Inc., Univar USA, Inc., and Pioneer Americas, LLC, including making minor and non-substantive changes, subject to the availability of budgeted funds.RECOMMENDATIONS