cover
TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Robert Leible, Superintendent of Water Production
DATE: January 23, 2023
SUBJECT:
A Resolution authorizing CDM Smith Inc., to provide professional engineering services to conduct a Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization Study for the Water Production Division in an amount not-to-exceed of $1,168,390.00.
PURPOSE:
To obtain City Council authorization to enter into an agreement for professional engineering services with CDM Smith Inc., (CDM Smith), Chicago, IL for the design, project management, and study completion services for a Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization Study (CCTOS) for the Water Production Division (WPD).
BACKGROUND:
The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the principal federal law in the United States intended to ensure safe drinking water for the public and for the protection of public health. Lead is a drinking water contaminant of concern and has been regulated since 1991 by the Lead and Copper Rule under the SDWA. In recent years the focus of lead in drinking water has intensified due to water quality problems with lead in municipal drinking water systems.
Generally speaking, lead in drinking water is not found in treated water leaving a municipal water treatment plant, as is the case in Aurora. Water is known as the universal solvent, and lead is leached into drinking water when the water passes through piping made from lead. A specific example of lead piping is known as a service line, which carries water from the watermain to the home or business. Where present, lead service lines are the most common source of lead found in drinking water.
Regular testing of drinking water in customer homes which have a lead service line is required by the Lead and Copper Rule. Aurora has been in compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule for many years. With the increased scrutiny of lead in drinking water and the development of newer sample collection procedures, the occurrence and level of lead in drinking water is now better understood.
To control the solubility or leaching of lead into drinking water, water chemistry control has historically been employed by water treatment professionals at the source, i.e., the water treatment plant. Careful control of pH, alkalinity, or the addition of corrosion inhibiting chemicals are the most common approaches used today. Even with treatment that is understood to be optimized, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is now mandating that water systems undertake a new study of corrosion control treatment and determine if current practices are still optimized or if additional new practices can improve corrosion control and further minimize lead concentrations in drinking water. The attached letter received from the IEPA on April 15, 2022, directs the City of Aurora to complete a corrosion control study in accordance with 35 IAC 611.351(c)(3).
In order to perform a CCTOS, an experimental pipe loop test station must be designed, constructed, and operated over a period of time, up to two years. The test pipes are constructed from actual lead service lines that will be harvested from City of Aurora residences. In simple terms, various water quality scenarios are initiated through the pipe loops and samples are collected and analyzed over the duration of the study to determine if changes to full-scale drinking water treatment are recommended. Due to the technical requirements and sophistication of such a study, a professional engineering consultant is required that possesses the necessary expertise and knowledge of corrosion control practices, water chemistry as it relates to lead, and numerous other considerations, including scale analysis of the internal lead pipe surface.
DISCUSSION:
As the directive from the IEPA was received in April 2022, with an initial completion date of October 2023, (an extension will be sought), the WPD requested funding in the 2023 Capital Improvement Program to allow for timely commencement of the study. CIP #I059 was approved for a total project cost of $1,200,000.00, with $700,000.00 budgeted for work to be performed in 2023 in account 510-4058-511-32-20. The remainder of $500,000.00 will be allocated in 2024.
To select a qualified consultant for the CCTOS, the WPD initiated a Qualifications Based Selection process by publicly posting an invitation document on the City's website, QBS 22-53 (attached). The QBS document serves to inform potential firms of the need for consulting services and the preliminary scope of services being requested. It also describes the selection procedures and evaluation/scoring criteria applied to the firm's Statement of Qualifications and in-person presentation.
Four firms responded to the QBS solicitation and submitted documents outlining their firm's qualifications. The selection team representing the WPD reviewed all submittals and deemed three firms best qualified to perform the required design, project management, and technical study requirements necessary to satisfactorily complete the CCTOS. Subsequently, each of the final three firms was invited to give presentations to the WPD selection team. The firms interviewed were:
1. CDM Smith (Chicago, IL)
2. Crawford, Murphy & Tilly/Engineering Enterprises, Inc./Cornwell Engineering
3. Jacobs (Chicago, IL)
The WPD selection team ranked all firms in various categories including the qualifications document submitted, relevant experience, staff capabilities, project technical approach, available schedule, references provided, and their overall presentation and communication style. The final consultant scoring and ranking summary is attached, which reflects the final selection of CDM Smith. CDM Smith demonstrated strong technical understanding of the project requirements, has strong project experience with this scope both past and present, fully understands the regulatory concepts involved and has worked productively with the IEPA on other similar projects. Each of the four selection team members ranked CDM Smith number one overall.
The technical scope of work (Exhibit A) defining the overall project tasks is attached. The proposed Agreement (attached) to perform the scope of work is for a time and material amount not-to-exceed of $1,168,390.00. Exhibits B, B.1, B.2 provide backup information regarding project cost breakdowns. The proposed Agreement has been reviewed and approved by the City's Law Department.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Without completing the corrosion control treatment optimization study, as mandated by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, the city would be in violation of the IEPA unfunded mandate with potential regulatory repercussions.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That a resolution authorizing CDM Smith Inc., to provide professional engineering services for the Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization Study for the Water Production Division in an amount not to exceed $1,168,390.00 be approved by the Mayor and City Council. It is further recommended that this matter be submitted to the Infrastructure and Technology Committee for review and recommendation.
cc: Infrastructure and Technology Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution authorizing a professional engineering services agreement with CDM Smith, Inc., to conduct a Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization Study for the Water Production Division in an amount not to exceed of $1,168,390.00
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, in accordance with 35 IAC 611.351(c)(3) the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency issued a directive to the City of Aurora for the completion of a Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization Study for the purpose of assessing water quality and control of lead in drinking water; and
WHEREAS, the Water Production Division initiated a Qualifications Based Selection process for the necessary professional engineering services for design, project management, and study completion services to successfully complete the required study; and
WHEREAS, CDM Smith, Inc., was selected as the most qualified firm, for this particular project, to complete the necessary professional services; and
WHEREAS, CDM Smith, Inc., has provided a proposal for a time and material, not-to-exceed amount of $1,168,390.00 to complete the necessary professional engineering services for design, project management, and study completion services; and
WHEREAS, budgetary authority is granted and $1,200,000 was approved for this work via CIP # I059, with $700,000 allocated in 2023 in account 510-4058-511-32-20 and $500,000 allocated in 2024.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Purchasing Director be and is hereby authorized and directed to issue a purchase order for the necessary professional engineering services for a Corrosion Control Treatment Optimization Study, on a time and material basis in the not-to-exceed amount of $1,168,390.00 for the Water Production Division.