Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David L. Corliss – City Manager Cynthia Wagner - Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard - Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Philip Ciesielski – Assistant Director of Utilities
CC:	Dave Wagner – Director of Utilities Mike Lawless – Assistant Director of Utilities Beth Frailey Krishtalka – Assistant to Director Mark Hegeman – Utilities Operations Superintendent Dave King – Utilities Maintenance Superintendent
Date:	August 15, 2012
RE:	Agenda Item – Advertise RFP R1212 for Engineering Services for Project UT1209 – Taste and Odor, and Algal Toxin Water Treatment Process Evaluation

Please include the following item on the City Commission Agenda for consideration at the August 21, 2012 meeting:

Authorize Staff to advertise Request for Proposals R1212 for Engineering Services for Project UT1209 – Taste and Odor, and Algal Toxin Water Treatment Process Evaluation.

Project Description 

The generation of taste and odor compounds and algal toxins in the City of Lawrence, KS raw water sources has occurred periodically. These sources are surface water from the Clinton Reservoir and Kansas River. There is small contribution of Kansas River alluvial well water. At present the sources are separate and treated at plants dedicated to each. Clinton Reservoir water is treated at the Clinton Water Treatment Plant, and Kansas River surface and well water is treated at the Kaw River Water Treatment Plant. Both plants generally employ presedimentation, powder activated carbon addition, lime softening, disinfection by sodium hypochlorite and dual media filtration.

The current treatment plant processes provide sufficient reduction of geosmin for most events of record to produce finished water below the taste sensitivity of most humans. The most recent event at Clinton Lake, which persisted for about ten days during June 2012, had raw water geosmin levels that exceeded any previous event of record by nearly four times. The inability of the current treatment process to remove these high levels of geosmin resulted in numerous customer calls regarding the taste and odor of the drinking water.

Presently, algal bloom events related to the generation of geosmin, mib and/or algal toxins are not well understood. The City of Lawrence is currently working with United States Geological Survey, the US Army Corps of Engineers and other area utilities in several scientific studies to understand these events and attempt to predict their future frequency and severity.

The purpose of this project is to evaluate drinking water treatment processes that will enhance the removal of taste and odor compounds, microtoxins and viruses at the Clinton and Kaw water treatment plants. The anticipated scope of the work includes water testing and analysis; evaluation of existing plant processes; evaluation of additional treatment processes, and existing process modifications; estimated capital, and operational and maintenance costs of proposed options; and the present worth value of the proposed options. Treatment options to be evaluated will include, but not be limited to, advanced oxidation, filtration, and adsorption technologies. The evaluation will also include the potential of changing raw water sources to alleviate contaminates and reduce overall treatment costs.

The project will be closely coordinated with the current Kaw Water Treatment Plant's study evaluating options to repair, or replace, the existing surface water intakes, and the recent Water Master Plan recommendations. In addition, the results of the proposed City Auditor’s study on Taste & Odor Issues on tonight’s agenda will also be incorporated into this study.

Project Funding: The project is included in the Department of Utilities proposed 2013 Rate Plan and Capital Improvement Program.

Action Request: Authorize Staff to advertise Request for Proposals R1212 for Engineering Services for Project UT1209 – Taste and Odor, and Algal Toxin Water Treatment Process Evaluation.

Thank you for your assistance. Please advise if you have any questions.