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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: L. Eric Schoeny, P.E. Interim Superintendent of Water and Sewer Maintenance, Drainage and Underground Coordinator
DATE: March 14th, 2016
SUBJECT:
Purchase of a VAC-CON Model V212E/1300LHA Combination Sewer Cleaner through the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative in the amount of $304,460.00.
PURPOSE:
The purchase of a new combination sewer cleaning machine is needed in order to ensure that the City of Aurora meets its Environmental Protection Agency National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (EPA NPDES) permit requirements.
BACKGROUND:
The US and Illinois EPAs expect municipalities like the City of Aurora to proactively maintain their sewer systems in order to avoid sanitary sewer overflows (SSO's) and minimize pollutants in stormwater runoff. SSO's result in raw sewage discharges into the Fox River and other streams as well as basement sewage backups. SSO's are often caused by blockages in publicly owned sewers that could be avoided through regular sewer cleaning.
The City of Aurora's Water and Sewer Maintenance Division (W&S) is responsible for cleaning approximately 1,200 miles of sanitary, combined, and storm sewers. Also, approximately 16,000 manholes and over 30,000 catch basins are part of the sewer system and need ongoing cleaning and maintenance. In 2015 the W&S division cleaned approximately 122 miles of sewers and 418 catch basins. Catch basins are devices designed to protect sewer pipes by trapping debris in sumps. For catch basins to perform properly they must be cleaned on a regular basis.
The W&S Division currently has three combination sewer cleaning machines. Two are used on a daily basis, weather permitting. The third, originally purchased in 1999, has reached the end of its useful life and is now out of commission. The new VAC-CON will replace it.
The Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) includes the DuPage Mayors and Mangers Conference plus the Will County Government League...
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