REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL October 26, 2017 FROM: THOMAS C. ESQUEDA, Director Department of Public Utilities THROUGH: BUD TICKEL, Water System Manager Department of Public Utilities - Water Division BY: HENRY C. McLAUGHLIN, Business Manager Department of Public Utilities - Water Division SUBJECT ..Title Approve Services Agreement with ValveTek Utility Services, Inc., for the Neutral Output Discharge Elimination System (NO-DES) water distribution system flushing services in Southeast Fresno for three months in the amount of $122,500 to reduce potential water quality issues for customers when the Southeast Surface Water Treatment Facility (SESWTF) begins providing treated water to the distribution system in May 2018 (City Wide) ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that Council approve a Services Agreement in the amount of $122,500 with ValveTek Utility Services, Inc., for the provision of distribution system NO-DES flushing services in Southeast Fresno to reduce water quality issues for customers when the SESWTF starts to provide treated water to the distribution system. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY As part of the planned startup of the City's SESWTF, treated surface water will begin entering the distribution system in May 2018. In July 2018, it is anticipated that it will be producing 54 million gallons per day (MGD) of this water that will be distributed throughout the water system. The introduction of this water will increase velocity as well as change the direction of normal flows as the transition from wells to surface water is made. The purpose for contracting the NO-DES flushing is to completely flush the areas that will be affected by the increased flows developed by the new SESWTF. The groundwater wells tend to produce fine silts and sands that form a layer on the bottom of the distribution mains during the non-flushing years. Due to the recent droughts over multiple years, the Water Division has limited its flushing program for the conservancy of ground water and sediments have built up. NO-DES is an advanced water main flushing practice that utilizes a mobile filtration system to flush and filter water mains clean without discharging any water to waste during operations. The Division has begun this effort by contracting with ValveTek to provide flushing during October for $40,000. This requested service agreement will allow for an additional three months of flushing services for a total of $122,500. Recently, the Division acquired a NO-DES flushing vehicle that will also be used to flush in Southeast Fresno and has a second truck on order that was planned to be used for this work. However, due to delivery delays, this equipment will not be available. The contracting of this service is necessary to supplement the City equipment to complete the flushing of the Southeast Fresno areas in time for the startup of the SESWTP. BACKGROUND As part of Recharge Fresno, the City is constructing the SESWTF to treat surface (river) water to drinking water standards and enable diversification of the City's water supply. Substantial completion of construction is scheduled for May 2018. The facility will be fed with surface water from the Kings River through a newly constructed thirteen mile long Kings River Pipeline and will have initial and ultimate treatment capacities of 54 MGD and 80 MGD, respectively. Implementation of this and other ongoing major projects will reduce reliance on groundwater and alleviate depletion of the aquifer. The planned startup date for water deliveries from the SESWTF is May 2018, as part of the final commissioning of the facility. In July 2018, 54 MGD of water is scheduled to be supplied to the distribution system for customer usage. This will greatly increase water velocity as well as change the direction of normal flows as the transition from groundwater is made to surface water. The groundwater wells tend to produce fine silts and sands that form a layer on the bottom of the distribution mains. Periodic flushing of the system is required to remove these sediment and deposits that may accumulate over time. It consists of opening fire hydrants at the ends of blocks and allowing the water to flow out at a high volume to scour the water mains and remove settled particles from the system. Flushing should be done annually throughout the system. However, due to the recent droughts over multiple years, the Water Division has limited its flushing program to conserve ground water. This means that even more sediments may be in the distribution system. The NO-DES flushing method is an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional water main flushing. Water quality is improved without wasting millions of gallons of potable water. Instead of water flowing out of fire hydrants and running to waste, the NO-DES process uses a trailer or truck mounted pumping, filtering, and rechlorinating system that circulates the water within the water distribution system. The NO-DES unit is connected with large hoses between two selected fire hydrants, creating a temporary loop in the water distribution system. ValveTek operators use AWWA prescribed velocities, passing the water through a series of Absolute 1.0 Micron filters that remove all sediment and particulate matter at no less than 5.0 ft/second. Disinfectant can be added through a timed slow-drip pump to further improve water quality and safety. Inline turbidity meters indicate when clarity levels have reached below 1.0 NTU, providing pin-point location specific data to determine when the flushing sequence can be concluded. Tests are taken throughout the operations and results are made available to their clients. The purpose for contracting the NO-DES flushing is to completely flush the areas that will be affected by the increased flows developed by the new SESWTF to reduce customer complaints regarding water quality issues such as taste, odor, discoloration and sand. Recently, the Water Division purchased a NO-DES flushing vehicle that has been deployed to the Southeast area to begin flushing. A second flushing truck was also purchased and anticipated to be delivered by July 2017, to provide additional flushing capacity. However, there were issues with the acquisition of this equipment that has caused significant delays in delivery and it will not be available for this effort. Therefore, the services of ValveTek and their NO-DES vehicle will be required to complete the flushing of the Southeast area by the start up deadline of the SESWTF. The Division has begun this effort by contracting with ValveTek to provide flushing during October for $40,000. This requested service agreement will allow for an additional three months of flushing services at a total of $122,500 which is available within the FY 2018 Water Enterprise Operating budget. The City Attorney has reviewed and approved as to form. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378 this item does not qualify as a "project" as defined by CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not implemented because local preference is not required for this item. FISCAL IMPACT The General Fund will not be impacted. Funds are available in the FY 2018 Water Enterprise Fund Operations & Maintenance budget for this property maintenance service. Attachment: Service Agreement with ValveTek Utility Services, Inc.