Title
Resolution to Approve the Agreement with the Regents of the University of Michigan for Water Treatment Plant Pilot Plant Operational Assistance and Research ($450,000.00).
Memorandum
This memorandum and resolution requests approval of an Agreement for professional services with the University of Michigan (UofM) for the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Pilot Plant Operational Assistance and Research for a total of $450,000.00.
To ensure reliable, high-quality water into the future, the City of Ann Arbor (City) is investing in significant infrastructure improvements. The City of Ann Arbor WTP was constructed in 1938, and the City is still using components of this original infrastructure. Portions of the current plant are over 80 years old and have exceeded their service life. While the plant meets current regulatory requirements for drinking water, this aged and deteriorated infrastructure does not meet current design standards and results in many operational and maintenance issues.
On February 22, 2022, the City awarded to AECOM, Inc. the WTP Facility Plan Project. The scope of this project includes professional engineering services for the preparation of a facility plan that considers the operational, maintenance and regulatory needs of the City’s water system, while focusing on the rehabilitation of the original components of the WTP. Additionally, the project includes a pilot plant which is a smaller-scale production system used to physically test and validate the proposed treatment changes before detailed design and construction. The pilot plant will specifically demonstrate whether the proposed treatment changes will reliably meet the City’s finished water quality goals. The results from the pilot plant have the potential for significant construction cost savings through the validation of newer more efficient technologies. Piloting new treatment technologies will also provide the City with an opportunity to optimize removal of contaminants such as PFAS, Cryptosporidium, and 1,4-dioxane that appear in the watershed.
The pilot plant is in the initial stages of construction and will be operational later this year. The City intends to partner with the University of Michigan (UofM) to provide operational assistance, sampling, laboratory testing, data collection, analysis and reporting services for the pilot plant. The City has had a long history of partnerships with the UofM on water system projects. The operational assistance and research provided by UofM allows the City to utilize students to operate and maintain the pilot plant under the direction of the City’s consultant, AECOM, which is more cost-effective and also provides the opportunity to engage UofM faculty to investigate how the treatment may be optimized for removing emerging contaminants.
UofM complies with the requirements of the City’s Conflict of Interest, Non-Discrimination and Living Wage ordinances.
Budget/Fiscal Impact: This project is included in the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (UT-WS-16-17). Funding for this phase of the project will be funded by the Water Supply System Capital Budget.
Staff
Prepared by: Glen Wiczorek, PE, Senior Utilities Engineer
Reviewed by: Brian Steglitz, PE, Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, Significant investment in the City’s water system is needed to address current water quality challenges and aging infrastructure at the WTP;
Whereas, The City previously awarded to AECOM, Inc. the WTP Facility Plan project;
Whereas, The WTP Facility Plan project will evaluate new treatment technologies which will include targeted removal of PFAS, Cryptosporidium and 1,4-Dioxane;
Whereas, The construction and operation of a pilot plant will demonstrate whether the proposed treatment changes will reliably meet the City’s finished water quality goals;
Whereas, The UofM research team will perform operational assistance, sampling, laboratory testing, data collection, analysis and reporting services required by the pilot plant;
Whereas, The City of Ann Arbor has had a long history of research partnerships with the UofM research team;
Whereas, The funds for UofM will be provided by the previously approved WTP Facility Plan project which is funded from the approved Water Supply System Capital budget; and
Whereas, UofM complies with the requirements of the City’s Conflict of Interest, Non-Discrimination and Living Wage ordinances;
RESOLVED, That Council approves a contract with the Regents of the University of Michigan in the amount not to exceed $450,000.00 for Water Treatment Plant Pilot Plant Operational Assistance and Research;
RESOLVED, That a contract contingency amount of $45,000.00 be established and that the City Administrator be authorized to approve change orders in order to satisfactorily complete this project;
RESOLVED, That Council approve the contract for and that the funds be available for the life of the project without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk be authorized and directed to execute the contract after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney;
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution; and
RESOLVED, That the City make the following declaration for the purposes of complying with the reimbursement rules of Treasury Regulations 1.150-2 pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, that the City reasonably expect to reimburse itself for expenditures for the costs of the Project with proceeds of Bonds.