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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: John Hoffmann, P.E., Engineering Coordinator
DATE: May 22, 2023
SUBJECT:
A resolution authorizing the Director of Purchasing to execute a contract with Duke's Root Control, Inc., Elgin, IL, in the amount of $96,000 for sanitary sewer smoke testing in Wards 2, 3 and 4.
PURPOSE:
To smoke test 128,000 feet of sanitary and combined sewers in the area tributary to the Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) #4 at Hazel Avenue.
BACKGROUND:
Smoke testing identifies locations in the sanitary sewer where stormwater enters the sanitary sewer system though storm inlets, roof drains, sanitary services, sewer defects and manhole defects. The smoke escaping to the surface is an indication of locations of stormwater inflow and infiltration (I&I) that can enter the sanitary sewer system and overwhelm the sewer system during rain events. Reducing I&I will reduce the likelihood of the combined sewer system overflowing at CSO #4 on the Fox River.
As part of the Clean Water Act, the Environmental Protection Agency created the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System which resulted in several permits for the City of Aurora. As part of one of these permits, the City was required to create a Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) to reduce pollutants entering the Fox River and Indian Creek from their combined sewer systems. Smoke testing can help identify the scope of sewer separation projects required in the LTCP created by the City to satisfy the permit it holds with the IEPA.
Blowers are placed on two sanitary manholes while liquid smoke is blown into the sanitary manholes. The smoke has no odor, is non-toxic, non-staining, does not create a fire hazard and will dissipate in a few minutes.
DISCUSSION:
An RFP was advertised on April 21, 2023 and was opened on May 5, 2023. A review team of three individuals analyzed the four submittals and selected Duke's Root Control, Inc. (Duke's) as the highest ranking proposal. The City has used Duke's ...
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