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 Krishtalka – Assistant to Director Mark Hegeman – Utilities Operations Superintendent Dave King – Utilities Maintenance Superintendent
Date:	November 28, 2012
RE:	Agenda Item – Negotiate 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 December 4, 2012 meeting:

Authorize Staff to negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with Burns & McDonnell 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 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 coordinated with the results of the 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 will also be incorporated into this study.

Project Status: On September 28, 2012, in response to the Request for Proposals, staff received three (3) proposals from firms interested in the project. Proposals were received from Black & Veatch, Burns & McDonnell, and HDR.

A review committee consisting of City staff evaluated the proposals and interviewed the firms. Based on the combined results of the proposals and the interviews Burns & McDonnell ranked as the best firm for the project. As indicated in the RFP the following criteria were used to rate the responses:

· Project knowledge & approach – Burns & McDonnell proposed an integrated project approach including both optimization of existing treatment processes to address taste and odor compounds; and an evaluation of potential additional treatment technologies, their costs, limitations and side effects on treatment. Burns & McDonnell also proposed a public outreach component to aid in determining the appropriate level of service related to taste and odor events.

· Project qualifications and firm experience with similar projects – Burns & McDonnell provided previous experience related to treatment process optimization and the implementation of advanced treatment technologies to address taste and odor compounds.

· Key project staff experience – Burns & McDonnell staff provided a history of successful water treatment plant optimization projects including projects addressing taste and odor issues. Burns & McDonnell also provided project histories for the proposed staff related to the design and installation of advanced treatment technologies. The proposed staff have also been involved in recent treatment plant work with the City of Lawrence including the Water Master Plan which provided a detailed process evaluation of the Kaw WTP and the current Clinton WTP filter evaluation and rehab. Nathan Dunahee from Burns & McDonnell serves on the technical committee of the American Water Works Association working on Emerging Water Quality Concerns and Taste & Odor. The project team also includes Dr. Jennifer Graham of the USGS who is recognized for her work on algal blooms and related algal toxins in area lakes and rivers.

· Schedule – Burns & McDonnell propose to have a final report to the City within six (6) months of the initiation of the project. Other firms proposed longer timelines or did not address schedule.

Each firm was requested to provide a schedule of hourly rates with their proposal for reference. The hourly rates provided by Burns & McDonnell were found to be consistent with rates that were provided by other respondents.

Project Funding: The project is included in the Department of Utilities proposed 2013 Rate Plan and Capital Improvement Program. Any request to authorize the execution of a successfully negotiated contract would be withheld until the City Commission’s approval of the required funding for the project.

Action Request: Authorize Staff to negotiate an Engineering Services Agreement with Burns & McDonnell 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.