sr-052510-1cCity Council Meeting: May 25, 2010
Agenda Item: ~ `-G
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Lee E. Swain; Director of Public Works
Subject: Agreement with the City of Los Angeles for the Discharge of Brine Water
Related to the Restoration of the WeIF Field at Charnock Basin
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute an agreement. with the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation in an amount
not to exceed $5,000,000 for the disposal of brine water from the Arcadia Water
Treatment Plant.
Executive Summary
The Charnock Well Field Restoration project is constructing upgrades to the Arcadia
Water Treatment Plant. The new water treatment process will filter and soften
groundwater produced by the City's drinking water production wells, including the five
wells at the Charnock Well Field. A by-product of this treatment process is brine water
that must be disposed of in accordance with regulatory standards. An agreement with
the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation is necessary to dispose the brine water to
the sanitary sewer system. This agreement provides for the operation of the brine water
disposal system for approximately two years after the Charnock Well Field is restored
while the City evaluates long-term disposal solutions. The estimated cost of the brine
water disposal for the two-year duration is $5,000,000.
Background
The Charnock Well Field Restoration Project involves implementation of a water
treatment system to remove groundwater contaminated by the gasoline additive methyl
tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) from the Charnock groundwater sub-basin and restore the
sub-basin as a water supply for the City. The treatment system will use filtration with
granular-activated carbon to treat water from three contaminated wells at the Charnock
Well Field. The project also provides upgrades to the existing Arcadia Water Treatment
Plant that includes construction of new systems for drinking water disinfection,
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softening, and fluoridation. On February 26. 2008, the City Couhcil authorized a
Design-Build Agreement with Black & Veatch Construction, Inc. for the preconstruction
services of the Charnock Well Field Restoration Project. On May 26, 2009, Council
authorized an amendment to the Design-Build Agreement to implement construction of
the project. The construction of the improvements at the Charnock Well Field and the
Arcadia Water Treatment Plant are anticipated to be completed by December 31, 2010.
Discussion
The water treatment process at the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant utilizes reverse
osmosis to remove contaminants and soften the water prior to distribution into the City's
water supply system. The treatment plant has the capacity to process 10 million gallons
of groundwater per day. Based on preliminary water quality data and pilot plant testing,
the treatment plant has the capacity to produce approximately 8.5 million gallons of
drinking water while generating 1.5 million gallons of brine water per day. The brine
water contains high concentrations of minerals and contaminants and it must be
disposed of in accordance with regulatory standards. The brine water cannot be
disposed through the storm drain system to the surtace waters since the quality of the
water does not meet the standards for surface water discharge. Surface waters are
waters thaf are on the earth's surface, such as creeks, rivers, lakes, oceans, etc., as
opposed to ground water, which is under the earth's surface (underground). Surface
water discharge standards are regulated by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
To meet regulatory standards, the brine water must be discharged to the City of Los
Angeles' sanitary sewer for advanced treatment at the Hyperion Waste Water
Treatment Plant. Discharging brine water to the sanitary sewer requires an agreement
with the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation. The agreement details the terms and
conditions for disposal and the cost per gallon for facility use and advanced treatment.
It is anticipated that discharge to the City of Los Angeles' sanitary sewer will be required
for up to two years. During this time, the City will evaluate long-term disposal solutions,
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including renovating or developing infrastructure to discharge brine water into the City's
own sanitary sewer. Preliminary analysis indicates that disposal of brine water to the
City's sanitary sewer provides the most cost effective, long-term solution.
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
The estimated cost of the brine water disposal for the two-year duration is $5,000,000.
Funds are available in the Charnock Fund in account number 05672.555430. The
FY2010-11 proposed budget includes $1,689,306 for these costs. Appropriations in
future years will be included in those years' operating budgets.
Prepared by: Mark Cuneo, P.E., Principal Civil Engineer
Approved:
Forwarded to Council:
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Lee E. Swain
Director of Public Works
Rod Gould
City Manager
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Reference Contract No.
9216 (CCS).