Title
Resolution to Accept a Grant from the Water Research Foundation ($150,000.00), Approve a Project Funding Agreement with the Water Research Foundation ($480,429.00), Approve a Research Agreement with the University of Michigan ($250,000.00) and Appropriate $450,000.00 from the Water System Fund Balance for Research at the Water Treatment Plant (8 Votes Required)
Memorandum
This resolution requests approval for the research project, funding mechanisms, and agreements for the research project entitled “Investigating the Effect of Operational Strategies and the Role of Microbial Biomass for Extending the Lifetime of Granular Activated Carbon.” In collaboration with the University of Michigan, the City submitted a grant proposal to the Water Research Foundation’s Tailored Collaboration Research Program to seek funding for this project. The project is designed to further the City’s understanding of its Granular Activated Carbon Filters and inform decisions about how they are operated to optimize the quality of the City’s drinking water.
The City of Ann Arbor was awarded a grant from the Water Research Foundation in the amount of $150,000.00. The award requires the approval of two agreements, one with the Water Research Foundation ($480,429.00) and the other with the University of Michigan ($250,000.00).
The City of Ann Arbor has had a long history of research partnerships with Dr. Raskin, Dr. Szczuka, and their research teams at University of Michigan. Over that past five years, University of Michigan doctoral students and postdoctoral students have studied the City’s pilot plant, UV system, filters, ozone disinfection system, and distribution system, focusing on the chemistry and microbiology that inhabits these processes. Leveraging the work that has already been started, the City submitted a proposal to The Water Research Foundation, with the University of Michigan as a subcontractor, for a project to research operational strategies to extend the life of the filter media and optimize removal of PFAS, disinfection byproduct precursors, and turbidity. This project will utilize the recently constructed pilot plant for this research.
The total project value is estimated to be $480,429.00. The research plan is to be conducted over a period of two years. The Water Research Foundation Grant award is in the amount of $150,000.00. The University of Michigan is contributing $160,016.00 of in-kind goods and services, the Greater Cincinnati Water Works is contributing $5,000.00 of in-kind services, and the City of Ann Arbor is providing the cost-share (both cash and in-kind) of the remaining $165,413.00 over two years. The costs to the City, aside from the subcontract to the University of Michigan, include a subcontract for pilot plant operations support ($39,146.00), chemical costs to operate the pilot plant ($12,194.00), and the staff costs of leading the project, providing regular monitoring data to University of Michigan, and administering the agreements ($14,073.00).
As a part of the grant agreement, the Water Research Foundation also requires a cash co-funding amount of $150,000.00, which will be remitted back to the City as costs are incurred for this project along with the $150,000.00 of the Foundation’s funds.
The two proposed Agreements reflect the agreement between these three organizations (City, The Water Research Foundation, and University of Michigan) to complete the work proposed. The agreement with The Water Research Foundation awards the grant funding to the City and includes the project’s scope of work, deliverables, and project schedule. The agreement with the University of Michigan outlines their role in staffing the project and describes the services that they will provide.
Budget/Fiscal Impact:
Revenue: $150,000.00 from Water Research Foundation
Expenditures:
Revenue - $150,000.00 from Water Research Foundation
Expenditures -
$26,267.00 in-kind time for City staff and chemicals
$39,146.00 subcontract for pilot plant operations support
$250,000.00 Research Agreement with the University of Michigan
$160,016.00 third party in-kind support from the University of Michigan (Funded by the
University of Michigan)
$5,000.00 third party in-kind support from Greater Cincinnati Water Works (Funded by
Greater Cincinnati Water Works)
The University of Michigan complies with the City’s Non-discrimination and Living Wage ordinances.
Staff
Prepared by: Molly Maciejewski, Manager, Water Treatment Services Unit
Reviewed by: Sue McCormick, Interim Public Services Area Administrator
Approved by: Milton Dohoney Jr., City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The City was awarded a grant from The Water Research Foundation in the amount of $150,000.00 to complete a project in partnership with the University of Michigan Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering to study “Investigating the Effect of Operational Strategies and the Role of Microbial Biomass for Extending the Lifetime of Granular Activated Carbon;”
Whereas, The project will examine operational strategies to extend the life of the City’s granular activated carbon filter media while maintaining the high quality of Ann Arbor’s drinking water;
Whereas, The University of Michigan complies with the City’s Non-discrimination and Living Wage ordinances; and
Whereas, The Research Agreement with the University of Michigan will be partially funded by The Water Research Foundation Grant;
RESOLVED, That City Council accept the grant award from the Water Research Foundation in the amount of $150,000.00;
RESOLVED; That City Council approve the $150,000.00 cash co-funding amount to be disbursed to the Water Research Foundation, which will be subsequently reimbursed during the life of the project as costs are incurred;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve the Project Funding Agreement with the Water Research Foundation in the amount of $480,429.00 to study optimization of the City’s use of their granular activated carbon filters;
RESOLVED, That City Council approve a Research Agreement with the University of Michigan in the amount of $250,000.00 to study optimization of the City’s use of their granular activated carbon filters;
RESOLVED, That City Council appropriates $450,000.00 in expenses from the Water System Fund Balance to the Water Treatment Plant Operations and Maintenance budget, thereby increasing revenues and expenditures. With $150,000.00 representing the money disbursed to the Water Research Foundation and reimbursed through the project, $150,000.00 representing the Water Research Foundation grant award, and $150,000.00 in expenses for the City’s 50% match;
RESOLVED, That funds for this project are available for the life of the project without regard to fiscal year;
RESOLVED, That the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized and directed to execute the Agreements after approval as to substance by the City Administrator and approval as to form by the City Attorney; and
RESOLVED, That the City Administrator be authorized to take the necessary administrative actions to implement this resolution.