Adopt Resolution #19-191 Approving Centralized Water Treatment Request for Proposals and Authorizing Solicitation of Proposals

Purpose:
The purpose of this case it to adopt Resolution #19-191 approving the attached draft Centralized Water Treatment Request for Proposals and authorizing solicitation of proposals.

Background:
The purpose of the attached Request for Proposals is to allow the City of Ramsey to address various long-term needs related to the City’s municipal water supply system.
 
This year the Minnesota Department of Health informed City of Ramsey Staff that several of our groundwater supply wells are producing concentrations of manganese that exceed the recommended Secondary Drinking Water Standards. The City does not currently treat its municipal water supply for manganese so as a short-term solution the City immediately started pumping water only from wells with the lowest concentrations of manganese to maintain manganese concentrations below the recommended Secondary Drinking Water Standards, at least until heavier irrigation system use causes the City to introduce additional water from other wells.  Unfortunately, the wells with the lowest concentrations of manganese also produce the highest concentrations of iron.  This has resulted in increased complaints of rust-colored water, and over time will negatively affect the operation of valves, water meters, hydrants, and other mechanical devices susceptible to damage due to higher concentrations of iron.
 
 
To properly plan for long-term solutions to reduce manganese and iron concentrations in the municipal water supply system, and to properly treat any other emerging contaminants, and to ensure the existing aquifer we use as a groundwater source has adequate capacity to meet the future needs of the City, Staff requests Council authorization to solicit proposals from qualified consultants to provide professional engineering services under the following three general areas.
 

1. Analyze Source Water. Analyze and report on the overall accessibility, capacity, chemistry and limitations of the Tunnel City/Wonewoc (TCW) aquifer, the existing source water for the City of Ramsey’s municipal groundwater supply system, and on the long-term viability of continuing to use the TCW aquifer as the sole source of water for the municipal water supply system.  This will allow the selected consultant to adequately prepare a preliminary design report by understanding the chemistry of the municipal groundwater supply system and therefore which primary, secondary and/or emerging contaminants will need to be treated over the anticipated life of the facility.  This work will also allow the selected consultant to provide recommendations on the need for and use of alternative sources of water.

 

1. Develop Water Model. Develop a model of the City of Ramsey’s municipal water supply system using an industry standard software program.  This model will allow the selected consultant to adequately prepare a preliminary design report, and will allow the City to evaluate future operations throughout the system by considering variable flow regimes when water is drawn from different wells and storage tanks at different times, variable water usage patterns by municipal water consumers, and proposed system expansions.

 

1. Prepare Preliminary Design Report. Prepare a preliminary design report exploring available options and recommending preferred processes for treating known and emerging contaminants that will potentially need to be treated over the anticipated life of a centralized water treatment facility in the City of Ramsey.  The report must examine available treatment process options for identified contaminants potentially needing treatment, recommend a preferred treatment process for each identified contaminant, identify required space needs for preferred treatment processes, identify anticipated expansion needs, provide a recommendation as to the required size and preferred location for the facility, and provide cost estimates for constructing and operating the facility over its anticipated life.

 
Final design work for the centralized water treatment facility, including pilot testing of preferred treatment processes, will be completed under separate contract following public review of and input on the preliminary design report that will be developed as part of the scope of services of the attached RFP.
 
Staff intends to submit the RFP to the consulting firms within the City’s engineering consultant pool, as well as other engineering consultants that Staff feels are qualified to complete such work.
 
Staff also plans to advertise the RFP on-line using QuestCDN, the same website Staff advertises City improvement projects on, and in the City’s official newspaper, the Anoka Union Herald, on August 16, 2019.

No notifications are required for this item.  If approved, Staff will advertise the RFP in the Anoka Union Herald on August 16, 2019.

Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion to adopt Resolution #19-191 approving the attached draft Centralized Water Treatment Request for Proposals and authorizing solicitation of proposals.

Alternative #2 – Motion of other.

Funding for the required engineering services will be provided through the water enterprise fund.

Staff recommends alternative #1.

Motion to adopt Resolution #19-191 approving the attached draft Centralized Water Treatment Request for Proposals and authorizing solicitation of proposals.