Dudek receives consultant contract for DeLuz hydraulic model and improvement plan

Dudek received the Fallbrook Public Utility District professional services contract to develop a hydraulic model and improvement plan for FPUD’s DeLuz Service Area.

FPUD’s 3-1 board vote Oct. 27, with Archie McPhee opposed and Bert Hayden absent, authorized the contract for up to $81,250.

“This study is to help optimize the pumping and control systems in the DeLuz area,” said FPUD general manager Brian Brady.

Low-pressure problems occur in certain high-level zones during peak demand periods while during winter months water aging can cause water quality problems, so the DeLuz Service Area requires more frequent operator attention and allocation of resources. “The DeLuz portion of our piping system is complicated from the perspective of significant elevation changes and pressures within the system,” Brady said.

FPUD has implemented some improvements to the pumping facilities since the 1990 merger between FPUD and the DeLuz Heights Municipal Water District, but the hydraulic complexity of the system requires hydraulic modeling to help guide additional improvements which will alleviate potential pressure and water quality issues. The modeling will also be used to help confirm that the proposed improvements are the most cost-effective long-term solutions.

FPUD staff developed a request for proposals (RFP) to develop a hydraulic model and sent the RFP to three companies with specialized expertise in that area. Dudek and HDR responded, and district staff reviewed and ranked the proposals before determining Dudek to be the more qualified consultant company.

The $81,250 Dudek proposal cost for the modeling and improvement plan was $3,000 more than the HDR proposal cost, but the Dudek amount was determined to be appropriate for the effort required for the work to ensure that an accurate model is developed and the most cost-effective capital improvement plan is developed. FPUD had budgeted $100,000 for the modeling.