Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Utilities Department

TO:	David L. Corliss - City Manager Casey Toomay - Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard - Assistant City Manager
FROM:	Bob Brower - Utilities Field Operations Superintendent
CC:	Dave Wagner - Director of Utilities Mike Lawless - Deputy Director of Utilities Jeanette Klamm - Management Analyst Beth Krishtalka - Assistant to Director
DATE:	February 23, 2015
RE:	2015 Chemical Root Control Program

Background

The chemical root control program is designed to kill the root growth present in the lines and to inhibit re‑growth without permanently damaging the vegetation producing the roots. This is done by applying a chemical root control agent into the sanitary sewers.

The Utilities Department began the Root Control Program in 1998. The program is very successful in reducing root growth in city mains, which aids in preventing root blockages thus reducing backup calls, sanitary sewer overflows, and improving customer service.

The treated sanitary sewer line segments have a two-year warranty against root re-growth. The vendor will re-apply treatment if roots re-grow in the line during the warranty period at no additional cost to the city. The selected sanitary sewer line segments in each year’s project are retreated every third year as part of the Root Control Program.

Sanitary sewer line segments are selected for root control based on several factors including blockages caused by root infiltration, TV inspection, maintenance records, age of pipe, pipe material, and above ground conditions such as trees. The map and address list illustrate the 2015 locations.

Duke’s Root Control, Inc. (Duke’s) has met all specifications and has been the successful bidder since 1998, with ongoing satisfactory performance. The 2009-2013 Bid #B09034 prices submitted by Duke’s remained the same cost per foot as bid in the 2006 – 2008 root control program. Duke’s has agreed to extend the Bid #B09034 pricing through June 30, 2016 (see attached extension letter).

Project History

On June 16, 2009, bids were opened for the 2009 Root Control Program. The bid provided for four (4) annual renewals beyond the initial contract year. Two vendors bid on the project, Ace Pipe Cleaning (Ace) and Duke’s. However, the bid submitted by Ace did not meet the criteria specified in the bid documents, and Ace did not respond to all elements requested in the bid proposal, including bid prices for pipe sizes from 8-inch through 24-inch, a 5% Bid Bond and a minimum of three (3) Kansas certified pesticide applicators. The City specification also required the root chemical to be Razorooter II or equivalent product rated Group “E” on the USEPA Chronic Exposure Rate Scale. The bid provided by Ace was for the use of the chemical Sanafoam Vaporooter II, with the active ingredient of metam sodium. This chemical is specifically prohibited due to a USEPA Group “C” rating and has been responsible for disruption of the biological process in wastewater treatment plants. See the following table for a comparison of the products:

Root Control Chemical Comparisons

	Razorooter II	Sanafoam Vaporooter II
Active Ingredient Concentration (according to the EPA label)	Contains 37.3% diquat dibromide (diquat) in a water-based concentrate that is highly soluble in water for easy mixing	Contains 30% metam sodium (metam) water based concentrate and 50% dichlobenil wettable powder
EPA Carcinogenicity Classification	USEPA Group E – Evidence of non-carcinogenicity for Humans	Metam: USEPA Group C – Possible Human Carcinogen Dichlobenil: USEPA Group C – Possible Human Carcinogen
Chemical Stability	Non-volatile liquid concentrate that is highly soluble in water for easy mixing	Metam degrades when diluted with water to methyl isothiocyanate (MITC), a moderate poison, and/or to hydrogen sulfide, a highly poisonous gas
EPA Acute Toxicity Classification Signal Word	Category 2: Warning	Category 1: Danger (due to acute toxicity)
EPA Restricted Use Pesticide	No	Yes, due to acute toxicity
Non-Target Effects	Diquat is a contact herbicide that binds quickly and strongly to the target roots, organic material and clay, sand and silt particles in wastewater. This greatly minimizes diquat effects to beneficial microorganism populations important in the degradation process of dead root tissue	Metam acts a biocide by killing all live organisms within the treated sections of sewer pipe, including beneficial microorganisms important in the degradation process of dead root tissue.

The 2009 – 2013 Bid # B09034 tabulation is in the following two tables.

Duke’s Root Control, Inc

Pipe Size	2009 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	2010 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	2011 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	2012 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	2013 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	Footage
8 inch	$1.29	$1.29	$1.29	$1.29	$1.29	72,658
10 inch	$1.76	$1.76	$1.76	$1.76	$1.76	650
12 inch	$1.92	$1.92	$1.92	$1.92	$1.92	840
15 inch	$2.73	$2.73	$2.73	$2.73	$2.73	810
18 inch	$3.97	$3.97	$3.97	$3.97	$3.97
24 inch	$6.35	$6.35	$6.35	$6.35	$6.35

Ace Pipe Cleaning

Pipe Size	2009 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	2010 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	2011 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	2012 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	2013 Unit Price Per Linear Foot	Footage
8 inch	$0.93	$0.96	$1.00	$1.03	$1.06	72,658
10 inch	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid	650
12 inch	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid	840
15 inch	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid	810
18 inch	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid
24 inch	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid	No bid

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends acceptance of the extended Bid #B09034 pricing from Duke’s in the amount of $99,228 to treat 69,938 feet of 8-inch pipe, 1,394 feet of 10-inch pipe 2,318 feet of 12-inch pipe and 1,027 feet of 15-inch pipe for the 2015 Chemical Root Control Program.

Project Funding

Funding for the 2015 Chemical Root Control Program is from the 2015 O&M Budget.

Action

Approve extended Bid #B09034 pricing from Duke’s Root Control, Inc. in the amount of $99,228 for the 2015 Chemical Root Control Program.