Title
Receive update from EAA staff on recent activities regarding the San Antonio Water System District Special Project Meter Implementation Project.
Body
MOTION:
This item is for discussion purposes only. No action is required.
SUMMARY:
The purpose of this agenda item is for the Permits/Enforcement Committee to receive a report from EAA staff on the status of the San Antonio Water System (SAWS) District Special Project (DSP) Meter Implementation Project Agreement. The SAWS DSP meter implementation project is a comprehensive review and meter replacement/modification program involving the wells and meters formerly owned and operated by the Bexar Metropolitan Water District (Bexar Met), which are now owned and operated by SAWS as a result of the Bexar Met dissolution and integration.
The SAWS DSP Meter Implementation Project agreement, which was approved by the board at the April 6, 2013 meeting, includes a plan for SAWS to install and/or modify meters on 45 Edwards wells to comply with EAA meter rules. Of the 45 wells to be addressed in this project, 21 were modified under Phases 1 and 2 of the agreement, 18 wells in Phases 3 and 4 of the agreement, and 6 wells are included as part of the DSP Water Production Facility Upgrades portion of the project. According to the agreement schedule, all work is to be completed by December 31, 2016.
Accomplishments
SAWS completed meter installations and related work at the Phase 1 and 2 sites (20 wells) in July 2014. One of the Phase 1 wells (EAA Well #W100-278, located at 105 W. Bitters Road) was designated as a “Well of Stand Alone Functionality” and work on this well was rescheduled as it was added to the Phase 3 and 4 schedule. SAWS completed meter installations and related work at the DSP Water Production Facilities Upgrades sites (6 wells) in May 2015.
Additionally, EAA staff reviewed Phase 3 and 4 plans and specifications, performing the 60% design review in December 2014 and the 90% design review in April 2015. In June 2015, SAWS staff informed the EAA of a delay in the Phase 3 and 4 project and presented a revised program schedule with the proposed completion date in October 2016. SAWS also presented a letter to inform staff that as work has progressed to integrate the former Bexar Met system with SAWS, the plans for use of certain wells had changed since the development of the program agreement. Subsequently, SAWS identified eight wells they removed from the Phase 3 & 4 program listing. Of those eight wells identified, one well is to be permanently abandoned and plugged, four wells are to be taken out of service and capped, and three wells are located at newer facilities that do not require additional work and the existing meter accuracy has been certified by the meter manufacturer. Two wells were added to the Phase 3 and 4 project from the list of wells that were to be plugged/capped, and one well was added that moved from the Phase 1 and 2 schedule.
With these latest revisions to the well listing for the Phase 3 & 4 work, there are a total of 13 wells remaining to be upgraded as part of this project. EAA staff received the Phase 3 & 4, Final Design and Specifications for review on July 22, 2015, and completed our review on August 5, 2015.
EAA consultants Fred Blumberg and Garrett Kehoe (ARCADIS-US) continue to support EAA staff with technical review and analysis of project submittals.
Update
As last reported to the Permits/Enforcement Committee at the July 28 meeting, EAA was reviewing the Final Design and Specifications package for Phase 3 and 4 sites (13 wells). EAA finished that review on August 5, 2015, and stated that if all meters were installed as per the drawings and specifications, the meters would comply with EAA rules regarding meter accuracy. The SAWS board voted at their December 1, 2015 meeting to award the construction contract to Payton Construction, Inc. (“Payton”), who had also been contracted to perform the Phase 1 and 2 project.
The award of the Phase 3 and 4 construction contract also achieved the fourth benchmark of a 15% portion ($194,646.88) payment as outlined in the Aquifer Management Fee Rebate Letter Agreement dated October 2, 2013. One final 10% portion rebate remains ($129,764.58), to be paid upon final EAA approval of the SAWS DSP Well Metering Project.
EAA staff attended the SAWS pre-construction meeting between SAWS and Payton representatives on December 16, 2015. At that meeting, SAWS announced the Contract Start Date to be December 17, 2015, with a project completion date of October 31, 2016.
At the January 26 meeting, staff will summarize current activities and answer related questions.
M/WBE PARTICIPATION:
The EAA retained the services of ARCADIS-US as a technical consultant for review of design specification and installation as performed under the previous meter agreement with SAWS. ARCADIS-US is not an M/WBE.
STRATEGIC PLAN REFERENCE:
This agenda item does not relate to a specific goal or action step within the Strategic Plan, but supports the general EAA mission.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The EAA retained the services of ARCADIS-US as a technical consultant for this project and the work is performed under a letter agreement not to exceed $10,000 for 2016. Otherwise, this program has no fiscal impact on the EAA.