Consideration and Approval of Sole Source Purchase:  Thatcher B-41 Coagulant Chemical Purchase. (Purchase of chemical for water treatment at Lake Mary Water Treatment Plant).

Chemicals represent a large investment in the effective operation of the Utilities Division’s treatment plants. The Utilities Division uses coagulants to remove impurities from the Upper Lake Mary watershed in its production of potable drinking water. These chemicals are critical to the treatment of water in order to comply with water quality regulations and ensure the public’s safety. In recent years the chemistry of the Upper Lake Mary raw water has changed and the alkalinity has dropped. Our traditional method of aluminum sulfate treatment has been compromised by this continuous change in the natural change of the water chemistry. This alternative coagulant has been tested and is the best treatment for Upper Lake Mary water.

This 2 year contract is budgeted for in 202-08-301-1011-0-4362. The Water Production Section anticipates an annual operational savings of $40,000 by converting to this new treatment coagulant.  Additionally, there should be a 40% reduction in the sludge by-product that will save on disposal costs.

COUNCIL GOALS:
2) Ensure Flagstaff has a long-term water supply for current and future needs
3) Provide sustainable and equitable public facilities, services, and infrastructure systems in an efficient and effective manner to serve all population areas and demographics;

Additionally support the REGIONAL PLAN:
Chapter VI, WR.2.1, Develop and adopt an integrated water master plan that addresses water resources, water production and its distribution, wastewater collection and its treatment, and reclaimed water treatment and its distribution. Chapter VI, Policy WR.2.2, maintain and develop facilities to provide reliable, safe, and cost-effective water, wastewater and reclaimed water services

No, but the City has contracts for many other essential bulk chemicals for the treatment plants.

1) Award the sole source purchase of the proprietary coagulant provided by Thatcher.
2) Do not award the sole source purchase and continue treatment based on Aluminum Sulfate as a primary coagulant.

Chemicals represent a large investment in the effective operation of the Utilities Division’s treatment plants. Utilities use the following chemicals for these specific purposes:
  This alternative treatment chemical of B-41 coagulant will replace our use of Aluminum Sulfate while at the same time reduce our use of caustic soda and cationic polymer. As we realize the effective reduction of total organic carbon, we are able to minimize the formation of the Disinfection By-Products when chlorine is used in the final potable water which benefits the distribution system.

The Water Production section of the Utilities Division reviewed current practices and found an opportunity to increase treatment effectiveness. We invited national manufacturers to provide us with new and alternative solutions to aluminum sulfate coagulant treatment with the primary objective to be: increased total organic carbon (TOC) reduction at the best possible price point. Univar, Chemtrade, Sterling Water, and Thatcher Company all provided multiple proprietary performance products that they determined would meet our criteria. These products as protected trade secrets where evaluated both on effectiveness, unit price, and required treatment concentrations. We ran each product through bench top laboratory analysis and those that showed positive results were then tested full scale in the Lake Mary Treatment Plant for up to 3 days each; results were confirmed and TOC removals documented. The product that best meets our needs at the Lake Mary Water Treatment Plant is the Thatcher B-41 product and due to the makeup of this chemical being proprietary, a sole source purchase is necessary.

By establishing contract pricing and defining delivery requirements, the City receives a quality, consistent, product that meets the needs for the Lake Mary Treatment Plant at an established unit price. By not awarding the sole source purchase and continuing treatment based on Aluminum Sulfate, it will be less effective and more costly as well as hinder compliance with State Law and Federal water quality.

The following known water chemical manufacturers (Univar, Chemtrade, Sterling Water, and Thatcher Company) were contacted and all provided multiple proprietary performance products that they determined would meet our criteria. These products as protected trade secrets were evaluated both on effectiveness, unit price, and required treatment concentrations. We ran each product through bench top laboratory analysis and those that showed positive results were then tested full scale in the Lake Mary Treatment Plant for up to 3 days each; results were confirmed and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) removals documented. Based on the extensive testing and analysis conducted, the product that best meets our needs at the Lake Mary Water Treatment Plant is the Thatcher B-41 product and due to the makeup of this chemical being proprietary, we have determined this B-41 Coagulant product to be a sole source purchase through Thatcher.  

The Utilities Division annually budgets for the purchase of these chemicals within the following operational section: Lake Mary Water Treatment Plant (202-08-301-1011-0-4362) is $208,200.

Maintaining water quality standards is a prime benefit to the community.

The Water Commission supports and reviews the Utilities Department operations of the water section.