To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: George Lincoln 707-521-1808
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Fourth
Title:
Title
Biosolids Removal and Related Services
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager to execute the First Amended and Restated Agreement for Biosolids Removal and Related Services with Synagro-WWT, Inc., in a form approved by County Counsel. The amended agreement increases the amount by $525,000 and expands the scope of work to include additional biosolids removal in 2022 and 2024, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $1,785,000 and no change to end date of June 30, 2025. (Fourth District)
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Executive Summary:
This item requests approval to enter into an amended agreement with Synagro-WWT, Inc. (Service Provider) to include budget for additional biosolids removal and disposal from the biological treatment ponds at the Airport-Larkfield-Wikiup Sanitation Zone treatment plant (Airport Treatment Plant), owned by Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water). The Airport Treatment Plant’s wastewater treatment process does not include biosolids removal and therefore requires regular biosolids removal to ensure the biological processes function at peak efficiency. The removal process involves multiple steps and coordinated planning to ensure the Airport Treatment Plant remains safely online during the maintenance procedure.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
Wastewater treatment plant biological treatment ponds require ongoing maintenance to allow the treatment plant to operate in compliance with its Regional Water Quality Control Board issued Waste Discharge permit and other Water Quality Control Board requirements.
The removal of biosolids is performed in events (Removal Event), which are completed in stages. Each Removal Event requires mobilization, demobilization, and furnishing of necessary permits, equipment, labor, and materials for removal of biosolids from the Airport Treatment Plant and reuse for land application or disposal at a landfill.
The intent of each Removal Event is to remove accumulated biosolids from one or more biological treatment ponds in the minimum amount of time so that the emptied pond may be returned to service with the maximum solids storage and treatment capacity after being emptied.
Sonoma Water owns, operates, and manages Airport/Larkfield/Wikiup Treatment Plant.
Sonoma Water and Service Provider entered into an agreement for biosolids removal and related services, dated August 10, 2020, in the amount of $1,260,000.
Sonoma Water requires additional biosolids removal and disposal from the biological treatment ponds at the Airport Treatment Plant.
SELECTION PROCESS
Because the ponds at Airport Treatment Plant were nearing capacity, there was an urgent need to remove biosolids and regain capacity as soon as possible. In an effort to expedite this work, Sonoma Water utilized the competitive selection process completed by the Town of Windsor (Town) in December 2019 for biosolids removal and related services. Sonoma Water determined that the services solicited by Town were substantially similar to services required by Sonoma Water. In addition, Sonoma Water determined that Town’s evaluation of respondents met Sonoma Water’s standard for evaluation.
Sonoma Water contacted Service Provider by phone and discussed the work on February 6, 2020, at which time Service Provider agreed to perform similar services at the rates negotiated with Town.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed amended agreement, Service Provider will continue to provide biosolids removal and related services including permit acquisition, mobilization, demobilization, transportation, cleanup, preparation of the related required plans, and disposal, including applicable dewatering, weighing, and sampling in a manner that complies with local, state, and federal requirements. In addition, Service Provider will provide additional biosolids removal during the 2022 and 2024 Removal Events.
Removal Events will be coordinated with the Town and Service Provider to reduce mobilization and demobilization costs, since Town’s facility is in close proximity to the Airport Treatment Plant. Removal Events are planned in the first, third, and fifth years of the agreement to allow for funding to be accrued and to coincide with the estimated biosolids accumulation and feasibility of mobilization and demobilization efficiencies.
The additional cost is $525,000, for a new not-to-exceed agreement total of $1,785,000. There is no change to end date of June 30, 2025.
County Strategic Plan: N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment: Wastewater Treatment and Water Reuse, Goal 1: Improve operational reliability of wastewater treatment and water reuse systems.
Biosolids removal and disposal allow the Airport Treatment Plant to operate in compliance with its Regional Water Quality Control Board issued Waste Discharge permit and other Water Quality Control Board requirements. In addition, regular biosolids removal and disposal ensure the biological processes involved in wastewater treatment continue to function efficiently.
Prior Board Actions:
08/04/2020: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and Synagro-WWT, Inc., for biosolids removal and related services. Cost $1,260,000; term end June 30, 2025.
02/28/2018: Approved agreement between Sonoma Water and Santos Excavating, Inc., for as-needed lagoon sludge removal and disposal services through March 1, 2021, in the amount of $1,000,000.
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 22-23 Adopted |
FY23-24 Projected |
FY 24-25 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$250,000 |
$175,000 |
$100,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$250,000 |
$175,000 |
$100,000 |
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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 |
$250,000 |
$175,000 |
$100,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$250,000 |
$175,000 |
$100,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Budgeted amount of $250,000 is available from FY 2022/2023 appropriations for the Airport/Larkfield/Wikiup Sanitation Zone Operations Fund. FY 2023/2024 and FY 2024/2025 appropriations will be budgeted in those fiscal years.
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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:
None.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.