To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 707-547-1900, Mitch Buttress 707-524-3795
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Demuth Property Test Well - Contract Award
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Adopt and approve the Project Manual and Drawings (“plans and specifications”) entitled “Demuth Property Test Well.”
B) Award the contract to Weeks Drilling and Pump Company for $289,975 for construction of the Demuth Property Test Well and authorize the Chair to execute the contract.
C) Authorize the General Manager of Sonoma County Water Agency to sign Section 00 65 23 (Agreement and Release of Any and All Claims), with County Counsel review, if any unresolved claims are listed by the contractor.
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Executive Summary:
This item requests approval of a contract with Weeks Drilling and Pump Company for $289,975 for construction of the Demuth Property Test Well (Project). The purpose of the Project is to conduct a hydrogeologic investigation of the former Demuth property (Property) to assess its viability for potential future water supply facilities.
Discussion:
The former Demuth property is located adjacent to the Russian River, directly across the river from Sonoma Water’s Mirabel facility. The Property was purchased by Sonoma County Regional Parks (Parks) in 2022. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Parks, Sonoma Water has an option to purchase a portion of the Property. Sonoma Water is conducting a hydrogeologic study (Study) of Property to inform the decision of whether to exercise the purchase option. To date, two phases of geophysical surveys have been conducted, and four groundwater monitoring wells have been installed on the Property as part of the Study. The next phase of the Study is to install a large-diameter test well capable of pumping groundwater at rates similar to a municipal supply well. Following installation of the test well, a pumping test will be conducted (not part of this contract) and data will be collected from the test well and the nearby monitoring wells in order to understand and quantify the hydrogeologic characteristics of the Property.
The Demuth Property Test Well project consists of constructing a 14-inch-diameter stainless steel test well to a depth of approximately 100 feet using mud rotary drilling methods at 10441 Wohler Road, in an unincorporated area near Forestville, California. The Project includes, but is not limited to, drilling a pilot hole, collecting formation samples, reaming a borehole, conducting geophysical surveys, and constructing and developing a well.
The engineer’s estimate was $347,630. The Project was advertised for bids on May 7, 2026.
On June 9, 2026, two bids were received per the attached Bid Summary. The lowest responsive and responsible bid is from Weeks Drilling and Pump Company and is $57,655 below the Engineer’s Estimate. Weeks Drilling and Pump Company is experienced in this type of construction and met the experience requirements.
A contractor must execute a release of claims (Section 00 65 23) before final payment but may except any unresolved claims from the release. The requested action authorizes the General Manager to approve the release unless the contractor lists unresolved claims. In that case, County Counsel must review Section 00 65 23 prior to General Manager approval.
Construction on the Project is scheduled to begin approximately September 14, 2026, with an estimated completion date of January 11, 2027.
California Environmental Quality Act
The General Manager has determined that the Project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines sections 15304(f), Minor Alterations to Land, and 15306, Information Collection, because the project consists of exploratory well drilling to evaluate site suitability and support potential future investigations. The project would not involve the removal of healthy, mature, scenic trees or result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. Sonoma Water staff prepared a Notice of Exemption in accordance with CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and Sonoma Water’s Compliance Procedures for CEQA,
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan:
N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
This item directly supports Sonoma Water’s Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following goal, strategy, and action item.
Goal: 2. Planning and Infrastructure - Implement comprehensive, integrated, and innovative infrastructure planning to strengthen existing services, minimize life cycle costs, and prepare for the future.
Strategy: 2.1 Conduct planning that integrates and balances operational, maintenance, and infrastructure priorities.
Action Item: 2.1.2 Continue to engage in planning efforts and partnerships to protect and enhance our water supply.
Award of contract and construction of the test well will help Sonoma Water prepare for the future by informing the potential purchase of a property that may be a valuable asset for future infrastructure.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY26-27 Adopted |
FY27-28 Projected |
FY28-29 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$150,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
$139,975 |
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Total Expenditures |
$289,975 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$289,975 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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General Fund Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$289,975 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $150,000 is available from FY 2026/27 appropriations for the Water Transmission fund. Additional appropriations in the amount of $139,975 from the Water Transmission System fund are required to process this expense. With Board approval, unused appropriations budgeted in FY 2025/26 will be rolled forward to FY 2026/27 in Sonoma Water’s Q1 Consolidated Budget Adjustments.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment - Bid Summary
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Project Manuals and Drawings