Title
Resolution Authorizing the Sole Source Purchase of a Xylem YSI Pontoon Vertical Profiler System in the Amount of $150,000 for the Lake Townsend Water Treatment Plant Raw Water Intake
Body
Department: Water Resources
Council District: 2
Public Hearing: N/A
Advertising Date/By: N/A
Contact 1 and Phone: Steven Drew, 336-373-7893
Contact 2 and Phone: Dell Harney, 336-373-7900
PURPOSE:
Water Resources requests approval to sole source the purchase of a water quality / contaminant alert monitoring system from Xylem YSI located in Yellow Springs, Ohio. City Council approval is required to sole source a purchase under State Public Contracting Statute GS 143-129 (e)(6) which allows exceptions to the letting of public contracts for the purchase of apparatus, supplies, materials or equipment when standardization or compatibility is the overriding consideration. In this particular case the sole source option was chosen because Xylem YSI is the only supplier that meets the city’s requirements for an autonomous reservoir water quality and contaminant monitoring system.
BACKGROUND:
In light of the vulnerability of the city’s raw water reservoirs and water treatment facilities, to potential threats and hazards from water quality and contamination events, the need to incorporate additional resiliency and protection measures became evident. This was made readily evident in June of 2018 when a petroleum spill from an overturned water vessel at the Lake Townsend marina threatened the intake to the Lake Townsend Water Treatment Plant.
The requested water quality / contaminant alert monitoring system is comprised of a floating pontoon anchored to the bed of Lake Townsend in such a way that it continuously samples and reports water quality parameters from waters immediately adjacent to the treatment plant intake. The system is designed both to optimize treatment processes for the Townsend Water Treatment Plant in response to raw water changes and to provide early warning of contamination events so actions can be initiated to protect the public water supply. Of particular concern to Water Resources is the release of petroleum products especially considering a high pressure petroleum transfer line owned by Plantation Pipe Line Company crosses underneath a portion of the Lake Townsend reservoir. To help increase the ability to detect petroleum spills a hydrocarbon monitoring instrument will be integrated into the contaminant-alert system. Other sensors will be utilized to help monitor for algae blooms which can be potential sources of cyanotoxins, as well as taste/odor issues and other problems that are detrimental to treatment plant processes. The installed sensors will continuously measure lake water quality in order to log environmental conditions that allow Water Supply and Stormwater Division staff to better understand the ecology of the lakes and watershed.
BUDGET IMPACT:
Funding is budgeted in Water Resources Operating Fund account 501-7025-01.6059 A19168 in the amount of $150,000.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
The Water Resources Department recommends and requests that City Council approve the sole source purchase of a Xylem YSI Pontoon Vertical Profiler System from YSI Integrated Systems and Services in the amount of $150,000.