REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Award of Bid No. PW15-01 for Hypochlorite Conversion and Continuous Recycled Water Production Facilities Project, and Finding of CEQA Categorical Exemption
Report
REPORT IN BRIEF
Approval is requested to award a construction contract in the amount of $4,212,000 to Anderson Pacific Engineering Construction, Inc. of Santa Clara for the Hypochlorite Conversion and Continuous Recycled Water Production Facilities Project (Public Works Project No. UY-12/09-15). Approval is also requested for a 15% construction contingency in the amount of $631,800.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) determination for this project is a categorical exemption pursuant to Class 1, Section 15301. Class 1 exemptions include repair, maintenance and minor alterations of existing public facilities involving negligible or no expansion of use.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The final treatment process at the Water Pollution Control Plant (WPCP) currently disinfects wastewater using gaseous chlorine, as does the recycled water production process. Gaseous chlorine has been in use at the WPCP for decades and was historically the disinfectant of choice due to its effectiveness and low cost. However, gaseous chlorine is a very dangerous chemical and as a result many treatment plants are eliminating its use in favor of liquid chlorine (technically sodium hypochlorite or bleach). This product is much less dangerous and therefore reduces the potential hazards to plant workers and the surrounding community. Additionally, it has become increasingly difficult to competitively bid gaseous chlorine due to liability concerns and regulatory issues related to the production and distribution of this material, resulting in all of the City potential suppliers having moved their production facilities out of state.
Capital Project 829430 (WPCP Chlorine Conversion) will provide for the construction of a new disinfection system, and ...
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