D&H Water Systems given FPUD replacement chlorination equipment contract

D&H Water Systems, Inc., was awarded a contract to replace Fallbrook Public Utility District chlorination equipment.

A 5-0 FPUD board vote May 18 awarded a $69,879.23 contract to the Oceanside-based manufacturer's representative to replace chlorine ton container valves, vacuum regulators, and shut-off equipment at FPUD's Wastewater Treatment Plant.

"We got very good pricing," said FPUD general manager Brian Brady.

The rehabilitation of FPUD's Wastewater Treatment Plant will increase the facility's reliability and improve compliance with regulatory requirements. The upgrades will also allow for storage of recycled water, and a new dechlorination facility will ensure compliance with FPUD's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board in 2012.

The treatment plant upgrades will include improved control and automation of the facilities to allow for remote monitoring and troubleshooting which would minimize disruptions and failures.

In May 2013, FPUD's board awarded a $25,507,000 construction contract with Archer Western Contractors. A $28.7 million State Revolving Fund loan which covers oversight and administration expenses as well as the construction will be paid back over 20 years at an interest rate of approximately 2.2 percent. Construction on the treatment plant upgrades began in July 2013, and FPUD expects the rehabilitation work to be complete by December 2015.

The chlorination building was not included in the overall upgrade contract because FPUD determined that plant staff could complete the improvements at a lower cost. FPUD has four chlorine gas feed and shutoff systems which disinfect treated water to allow its use as recycled supply, but that equipment is need of replacement and is also no longer manufactured and can no longer be serviced. "We decided to bid out these replacement parts separately," Brady said. "We believed we could get a better pricing."

A request for proposals was prepared to replace the equipment. Two suppliers provide the specialty equipment, and D&H Water Systems provided the only bid.

FPUD's $150,000 budget for replacement of any failed equipment outside the scope of the upgrades included the chlorination equipment as well as $49,896 which was previously allocated to replace a recycled water pump.