HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2d: Purchase of Sodium Hypochlorite for disinfection of the City's municipal water supplylYr
SIMON-
DATE: May 21, 2013
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
STAFF REPORT
Public Works Services Department
FROM: Tom Tait, Public Works Services Director
By: Craig Clark, Utilities Superintendent
SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A ONE
YEAR PURCHASE ORDER CONTRACT EXTENSION TO WATERLINE
TECHNOLOGIES, INC. FOR THE PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF
SODIUM HYPOCHLORITE TO BE USED FOR THE DISINFECTION OF
THE CITY'S MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY IN THE AMOUNT OF $49,785
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
The disinfection of drinking water by public water agencies is essential to eliminating
water quality problems. The City's water system utilizes liquid sodium hypochlorite to
disinfect groundwater pumped from the groundwater basin. Waterline Technologies,
Inc. is reaching the end of their first contract, and has agreed to hold their prices for one
year.
Over the past year, Waterline Technologies, Inc. has provided excellent service to the
City. It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute a
one year purchase order contract extension to Waterline Technologies, Inc. for the
purchase and delivery of sodium hypochlorite to be used for disinfection of the City's
municipal water supply in the amount of $49,785.
DISCUSSION
The disinfection of drinking water by public water agencies is essential in eliminating
potential water quality problems. Chlorination is an acceptable method used by
municipal water systems. The City's municipal water supply system permit from the
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) specifies that the City's water system
use chlorination as a means of disinfection.
Purchase of Sodium Hypochlorite for the City's Water Supply
May 21, 2013
Page 2 of 3
Gaseous chlorine had been the standard for municipal water disinfection for many
years. However, safety concerns related to the hazardous and corrosive nature of
chlorine gas prompted the Public Works Services Department to convert the disinfection
system over to liquid sodium hypochlorite. Liquid sodium hypochlorite (commonly
referred to as chlorine bleach) is much less hazardous to work with than gaseous
chlorine, and it has the same effect and residual protection as chlorine gas. The liquid
sodium hypochlorite is delivered in bulk to the City's well sites and stored onsite where it
is then injected into the distribution system using precision metering devices to assure
the proper concentration of disinfectant. These concentrations are monitored on a daily
basis by the City's Water Production Technicians.
On June 19, 2012, the City Council approved a one year purchase order contract with
Waterline Technologies, Inc. for the purchase and delivery of liquid sodium hypochlorite
to be used for the disinfection of the City's municipal water supply in the amount of
$42,891. Waterline Technologies Inc. has reached the end of their contract and has
submitted a written offer to extend the existing agreement for an additional one year
with no increase in unit cost.
This year the City converted two chlorine disinfection systems over from on -site chlorine
generation to liquid sodium hypochlorite. The reason for the conversion is because
most of the City's wells are currently using the liquid sodium hypochlorite and it is less
expensive to maintain. The two wells are St. Joseph and Chapman. The on -site
chlorine generation systems had become increasingly difficult and costly to maintain
and refurbish. Due to the replacement of the two on -site chlorine generation systems,
the City will need to buy additional liquid sodium hypochlorite. It is anticipated that this
will cost the City an additional $6,894 annually. Therefore, the purchase order was
increased by this amount to account for the additional liquid sodium hypochlorite.
FISCAL IMPACT
Sufficient funds have been budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2013 -14 Water Operations
Budget for the purchase of bulk liquid sodium hypochlorite.
Purchase of Sodium
May 21, 2013
Page 3 of 3
Hypochlorite for the City's Water Supply
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council authorize and
execute a one year purchase order contract extension to
for the purchase and delivery of sodium hypochlorite to b e
City's municipal water supply in the amount of $49,785.
Approved:
Dominic Lazzar
City Manager
direct the City Manager to
Waterline Technologies Inc.
used for disinfection of the