HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Waiving Purchasing Policy Requirement for Competitive Proposals for the Cooling Tower Blowdown Sanitary Sewer Modification RESOLUTION NO. 22-079
RESOLUTION WAIVING PURCHASING POLICY REQUIREMENT FOR
COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS FOR THE COOLING TOWER BLOWDOWN
SANITARY SEWER MODIFICATION
FOR THE CITY OF AMES,IOWA
WHEREAS, as part of the power generation process, the Power Plant uses water cooling
towers to dissipate heat, and periodically, the water must be discharged from the cooling tower as
mineral concentrations increase due to evaporation (a process called"blowdown"); and,
WHEREAS, the Power Plant had a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES)Permit to discharge the cooling tower blowdown water into the storm sewer system,which
flows to the Skunk River; and,
WHEREAS,recently,the State of Iowa issued an updated NPDES permit which requires a
greater degree of treatment to the water at the Power Plant before the blowdown water could be
discharged to the storm sewer system; and,
WHEREAS,WHKS&Co.,assisted Power Plant staff with evaluating discharge options and
evaluated the feasibility of directing the Power Plant's cooling tower blowdown into the City's
sanitary sewer system as a method of disposal; and,
WHEREAS,the blowdown water would then be treated at the City's Water Pollution Control
Facility and this approach would involve significantly less cost than the alternative of designing and
constructing a separate discharge treatment system at the Power Plant; and,
WHEREAS, in investigating the feasibility of discharging to the sanitary sewer system,
Public Works staff requested that a study be performed to ensure that the existing sanitary sewer
system could handle the increased flows; and,
WHEREAS, after assessing the potential alternatives,connecting the cooling towers to the
sanitary sewer now appears to be the best,low-cost alternative to meet the new Permit requirements;
and,
WHEREAS,staff is requesting to waive the Purchasing Policy requirements for competitive
proposals because of two reasons: 1) WHKS & Co., has existing knowledge of the project and a
detailed understanding of the Ames sanitary sewer system, and 2) the utility must achieve
compliance with the discharge limits in a timely manner,which could be difficult if additional time
must be taken for a competitive selection process.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Ames, Iowa,
that the waiver of the Purchasing Policy requirement for competitive proposals for the Cooling
Tower Blowdown Sanitary Sewer Modification is hereby approved.
ADOPTED THIS 22nd day of February, 2022.
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
Introduced by: Betcher
Seconded by: Junck
Voting aye: Beatty-Hansen, Betcher, Corrieri, Gartin, Junck, Rollins
Voting nay: None Absent: None
Resolution declared adopted and signed by the Mayor this 22nd day of February, 2022.