HomeMy WebLinkAbout03. Draft PP re: Zeolite-Anammox Pilot Plant StudyCentral Contra Costa Sanitary District 3
' BOARD OF DIRECTORS
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: June 19, 2014
Subject: AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT
WITH COLLISON ENGINEERING FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
SERVICES AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $95,000 FOR PHASE 1 OF
THE ZEOLITE - ANAMMOX PILOT PLANT STUDY AS PART OF THE
PLANT OF THE FUTURE PROJECT, DISTRICT PROJECT 7315
Submitted By: Initiating Dept./Div.:
Rita Cheng, PE, Associate Engineer Operations Department
REVIEWED AND RECOMMENDED FOR BOARD ACTION:
R. Schmidt, PE - Senior Engineer
Roger S. Bailey
General Manager
ISSUE: Board authorization is required for the General Manager to execute a
professional engineering services agreement when aggregated revisions are expected
to total more than $100,000.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the General Manager to execute an agreement with
Collison Engineering for professional engineering services at a cost not to exceed
$95,000 for Phase 1 of the Zeolite - Anammox Pilot Plant Study as part of the Plant of
the Future Project, District Project (DP) 7315.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS: Adequate funds have been allocated from the Treatment Plant
Program of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 -14 Capital Improvement Budget (CIB) to cover
this contract.
ALTERNATIVES /CONSIDERATIONS: The Board could decide not to authorize
entering into the proposed professional engineering services agreement with Collison
Engineering; however, doing so would allow Collison Engineering to find another
partner to conduct its second pilot plant.
BACKGROUND: Robert Collison, PhD, through his company, Collison Engineering, is
the researcher doing scale -up on the unique zeolite - anammox process to reduce
ammonia from a final effluent single vessel, two -stage bio- reactor.
Dr. Collison has a pending patent on the zeolite - anammox process and is the only local
source of anammox bacteria to convert ammonia to nitrogen and water.
Having just completed a pilot test at Union Sanitary District, he is now ready to pilot test
a second 3,000 gallon per day pilot plant at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District.
Page 1 of 2
POSITION PAPER
Board Meeting Date: June 19, 2014
Subject: AUTHORIZE THE GENERAL MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT
WITH COLLISON ENGINEERING FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERING
SERVICES AT A COST NOT TO EXCEED $95,000 FOR PHASE 1 OF
THE ZEOLITE - ANAMMOX PILOT PLANT STUDY AS PART OF THE
PLANT OF THE FUTURE PROJECT, DISTRICT PROJECT 7315
This project has been identified and submitted to the Regional Water Quality Control
Board (RWQCB) as one of the preferred processes to pilot test for meeting future
ammonia limits in final effluent and recycled water. As stated above, Collison
Engineering recently completed a 3,000 - gallon - per -day pilot project plant at Union
Sanitary District and is ready to start another 3,000 - gallon - per -day pilot plant at Central
Contra Costa Sanitary District. This Phase 1 pilot plant would collect data for a larger
Phase 2 pilot plant, at approximately 100,000 gallons per day. It would demonstrate
process and site - specific viability, generate design data and parameters, determine
site - specific nutrient removal performance, and estimate capital and operational
expenses for a full -scale treatment for the District. Postponement of this project would
allow Collison Engineering to find another partner to conduct its second pilot plant.
While the timing on this pilot test is sooner than expected, it fits the pilot work profile
envisioned in the Plant of the Future Project, DP 7315. If the Phase 1 pilot work is
successful, the Phase 2 pilot work would include a scaled -up pilot process at the
District. At that time, staff would return to the Board with a Position Paper to amend the
existing contract with Collison Engineering for the Phase 2 pilot work.
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: The Engineering & Operations Committee
reviewed this project at its meeting of May 27, 2014 and recommended that...
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION: Authorize the General Manager to execute a
professional engineering services agreement with Collison Engineering at a cost not to
exceed $95,000 for Phase 1 of the Zeolite - Anammox Pilot Plant Study as part of the
Plant of the Future Project, DP 7315.
Page 2 of 2