To: The Board of Directors the Sonoma County Water Agency and Board of Directors of the Russian River County Sanitation District
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency and Russian River County Sanitation District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 547-1911
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Fifth
Title:
Title
Receive report on Emergency Need to Perform Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from Pipeline Corrosion at the Russian River County Sanitation District’s Guerneville Lift Station and Force Main on Orchard Avenue, Guerneville
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Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
A) Receive report on emergency need to perform work to stabilize dangerous conditions resulting from pipeline corrosion on the discharge pipeline at the Guerneville Lift Station and the force main on Orchard Avenue, Guerneville.
B) Make findings that there is an ongoing emergency need to stabilize dangerous conditions resulting from the pipeline corrosions and continue to suspend competitive bidding requirements for emergency repairs.
(4/5th Vote Required) (Fifth District)
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests the Board of Directors for the Russian River County Sanitation District (“District”), to make findings of the ongoing emergency need to stabilize dangerous conditions resulting from pipeline corrosion on the discharge pipeline at the Guerneville Lift Station and the force main on Orchard Avenue and continue to suspend competitive bidding requirements.
Discussion:
On November 30th, 2021, the General Manager of Sonoma Water, pursuant to authority delegated in Resolution #06-0649, declared the existence of an emergency for Russian River County Sanitation District due to pipeline corrosion occurring at the Guerneville Lift Station and force main on Orchard Avenue, Guerneville, respectively. The Guerneville Lift Station and Orchard Avenue Force Main failures (Incidents) are a result of severely corroded iron/steel pipelines. In response, the Sonoma Water Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated to assist with managing the impacts. As a result of the Incidents, dangerous conditions have arisen at the Guerneville Lift Station and in the force main along Orchard Avenue. These facilities are owned by the Russian River County Sanitation District and maintained by Sonoma Water. The Incidents were sudden and unexpected, and pose a clear and imminent danger requiring immediate action to prevent or mitigate the loss or impairment of life, health, property, or essential public services. The Guerneville Lift Station Project is nearly complete. Further analysis of the Force Main on Orchard Ave, required the District to implement an additional project, so as to prevent another failure.
The emergency incidents are:
Guerneville Lift Station
• Failure: In the early afternoon of November 25, 2021, Sonoma Water became aware of an apparent leak near the District’s Guerneville Lift Station. This lift station accepts wastewater from most of the District’s service area and pumps it through a 3,400-foot-long force main to a downstream part of the collection system.
Orchard Avenue
• Failure: In the afternoon of November 30, 2021, Sonoma Water became aware of an apparent leak on the District’s Force Main below Orchard Avenue in Guerneville. This force main conveys wastewater from the District’s service area to the treatment plant, at the end of Neeley Road.
Upon investigations by staff, it was determined that complete failure of the pipelines was highly possible. If the pipelines were to fail, it could cause major erosion, flooding, and contamination along River Road and Orchard Avenue with raw wastewater, thereby posing a significant danger to residents, motorists and the environment. In addition, failures would impact neighboring properties and businesses in the area.
Based upon the above, there is an urgent need to make needed repairs to the District’s facilities. The normal contracting process takes two to three months from a minimum advertising period through assessing bids and awarding and executing contracts. This delay would mean that it would not be possible to perform necessary repairs needed to protect public health and safety in a timely manner.
Public Contract Code section 22050 authorizes Sonoma Water to enter into contracts for public projects as may be necessary to mitigate emergency conditions without giving notice for bids. Additionally, pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22035, this emergency work may proceed without adopting plans or specifications. If approved, this item will be brought back to the Boards every 14 days thereafter to determine (by 4/5 vote) if there is a need to continue the action without competitive bidding. The Board is obligated to terminate the waiver of the bid process at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant so that the remainder of the work may be completed under the bid process.
The District has entered into a contract with Ghilotti Construction to make repairs at Guerneville Lift Station and Orchard Ave. In addition, the District is entering into an agreement with Belfor Restoration Company to conduct clean-up of the Orchard Avenue site as well as properties along Orchard Ave that were impacted by the spill.
Progress to date:
Guerneville Lift Station
• On 12/16/2021, Ghilotti Construction completed construction of a new pipeline to replace the existing corroded pipeline between the wet well and the existing pipe located adjacent River Road. District staff is awaiting final paperwork to close-out the Guerneville Lift Station project.
Orchard Avenue:
• By 12/2/2021, the immediate rupture was repaired. In between failure and repair, District staff was able to conduct closed circuit TV (CCTV) of the force main. Staff was able to video over 700-feet of the force main. CCTV shows locations where the inside coating (1/2-inch mortar lining) has corroded away in some locations, leaving corroded bare steel exposed and in other locations where the mortar is spalling. Staff also observed cracks in the mortar. Staff has reasonably concluded that the conditions that caused the initial rupture is occurring within the force main, approximately another 800-feet and that another failure within this reach of pipe is imminent.
• By 12/12/2021, the majority of the soil that came into contact with the discharge was removed and replaced with clean fill. On 12/12/2021, Belfor Restoration Company was back on site to clean the roadway, a second time. One property remains, for soil removal. District staff is targeting early February to remove the soil, at property owner’s request.
• District staff is currently evaluating options to make further repairs needed to stabilize the emergency situation and proceeding to develop and execute a professional services agreement with West Yost Associates (Consultant) to assist the District in developing a plan for further stabilization work. Once developed, these repairs will be implemented.
Prior Board Actions:
01/04/2022: Received report on emergency need to perform work to stabilize dangerous conditions resulting from pipeline corrosion on the discharge pipeline at the Guerneville Lift Station and the force main on Orchard Avenue, Guerneville and authorized an additional $750,000 to execute contracts for a new total of $1,500,000.
12/7/2021: Resolution Making Findings of an Emergency Need to Perform Work to Stabilize Dangerous Conditions Resulting from Pipeline Corrosion at the Russian River County Sanitation District’s Guerneville Lift Station and Force Main on Orchard Avenue, Guerneville and authorizing the expenditures up to $750,000 for related services and supplies.
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Total project costs are estimated to be $1,500,000.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
None.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None