FPUD awards sewer replacement design contract to KEH - FPUD GM also notes need for downtown village sewer rehab work

The Fallbrook Public Utility District awarded a contract to KEH and Associates to develop design documents and provide other design support for the eventual South Mission Phase II Sewer Replacement Project.

The 5-0 FPUD board vote Dec. 10 authorizes a contract for up to $55,000 with KEH for the design phase.

FPUD staff has completed an initial evaluation to determine how to replace some of the sewer mains within South Mission Road which are above or near capacity. If a sewer section is at or near capacity, it is not in compliance with current sewer design standards and thus at risk for overflows and subsequent Regional Water Quality Control Board fines.

“This is one of several that we’re going to be doing over the next several years,” said FPUD general manager Brian Brady.

“There are several Downtown Village sewer systems or segments that are old,” Brady said. “They need to be rehabbed and they’re pretty hard to get at.”

Brady explained that the age of the system segments along with the area around them having been built up makes those segments harder to access.

“The Downtown Village area is, of course, critical, and it is the oldest part of the system so it’s a high priority for us,” Brady said.

FPUD divided the project into several phases in order to keep within district budget constraints. The first phase was open trench construction which did not have major traffic impacts, and FPUD staff was able to complete the design and construction of that phase. The next phase will likely require trenchless construction due to issues including creek and storm drain crossings, traffic mitigation, and access. FPUD’s staff does not have experience in design or construction for trenchless construction projects and recommended to the FPUD board that the design be completed by a consultant.

FPUD prepared a request for proposals to design the replacement of the South Mission Phase II sewer system and received responses from three firms. FPUD staff conducted an evaluation of the proposals based on overall approach, experience, cost, and schedule while interviewing representatives of the firms. The process determined that KEH and Associates was the most qualified of the three firms. KEH also submitted the lowest bid.

The design phase is expected to be completed by Spring 2013, and construction will likely begin during Fiscal Year 2013-14. The actual replacement project will cost approximately half a million dollars.