I. RECOMMENDATION:
City Manager and Assistant City Manager recommend purchase anthracite filter media from the Anthracite Filter Media Company in the amount of $20.626.60 for the water treatment plant.
II. BACKGROUND:
Anthracite Filter Media are filtration materials for turbidity and particulate matter removal in the water treatment process. Since the specific gravity is lighter than that of Filter Sand, it is used in combination with Filter Sand in dual-media filtration, to consist reverse grain layers after back washing. The filter media must be replaced when certain factors become evident such as total backwash time, turbidity increases, time, gallons filtered and head loss.
City staff received four (4) quotes from different companies and the low quote was from Anthracite Filter Media Company in the amount of $20,626.60. All quotes were accurate and for the same product.
III. DISCUSSION:
Water Plant operators have determined that due to the amount of time the anthracite has been in the filter beds and size of the anthracite particles, it is within the industry standard to change the material before turbidity and backwash time increase as we move into summer where more water must be produced.
IV. ALTERNATIVES:
None - this is an essential process in in the water treatment process in order maintain safe drinking water in accordance with State of CA standards.
V. FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost to replace the anthracite is $20,626.60 which will come from water enterprise fund under filter media replacement (acct#501-503-98058) which has a budget of $50,000. | | |