DATE: January 22, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: Water Utilities Department
TITLE: PURCHASE ORDER FOR RECONDITIONING BELT FILTER PRESS AT LA SALINA WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council approve a purchase order to Alfa Laval Inc., in the amount of $380,299, to recondition one belt filter press; approve a budget change in the amount of $600,000; and authorize the Financial Services Director, or designee, to execute the purchase order.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Water Utilities Department currently has two belt filter presses located at La Salina Wastewater Treatment Plant (LSWWTP). The belt filter presses are used to dewater digested sludge. The dewatered sludge is then transported off-site. This dewatering process is crucial for ensuring compliance with State and Federal regulations.
In 2014, City staff evaluated alternatives to determine whether it would be more beneficial to continue investing in ongoing maintenance, operation, and upgrades at LSWWTP or to decommission LSWWTP and divert all wastewater flows to the San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility. It was determined decommissioning LSWWTP would be in the best interest of the City. An updated assessment of the decommissioning alternative was completed by the City in March 2022, which confirmed that decommissioning LSWWTP is the most cost-effective solution. Decommissioning efforts are underway and expected to be completed within the next five to seven years. Until LSWWTP is decommissioned, the City must continue to maintain and replace critical equipment at the facility while meeting regulatory and permitting requirements to protect the health and safety of operations staff and community. After decommissioning of LSWWTP, the sludge pumps can be used as spares at the City's other wastewater treatment plant.
During recent scheduled equipment maintenance, significant leaks and several new areas of heavy corrosion wer...
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