Riverview council approves consultant to oversee PFAS leachate treatment project

Riverview — The Riverview City Council on June 2 authorized a consulting agreement with Civil and Environmental Consultants Inc. to provide PFAS consulting through the design and construction of a new leachate treatment system for the city landfill, with an estimated completion date of September 2026.

City Manager Dolbeck told the council the issue is driven by recent regulatory direction from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). "It's an unfunded, mandate," he said, adding the city does not manufacture PFAS but must treat contamination in landfill leachate.

The council moved to hire the consultant after extended discussion about technology choices, project risk and long-term cost. Councilman Gagnaga made the motion, supported by Councilman Workman; the roll call vote was unanimous in favor. The agreement will continue through wastewater treatment plant design and construction.

Why it matters: City officials said the facility will address PFAS and PFOA contaminants that current treatment does not remove, and that building the plant is necessary to meet permit requirements. Dolbeck described a current conceptual cost of about $10 million for the treatment plant and said the city expects to bond the project. He said capitalized project costs could be reimbursed through the bond package once finalized.

Key details and discussion: Dolbeck and other speakers described the consultant’s role as an independent, local “set of eyes” to verify design and technology choices developed by Tetra Tech and others. The initial consultant budget presented to council was $10,000 for early work; Dolbeck said the consultant will bill hourly within a managed budget and that he will monitor the spending.

Pilot testing cited by staff indicates the proposed treatment could reduce the volume of material needing off-site hauling to roughly 10 percent of residuals; Dolbeck said hauling currently costs an estimated $500,000–$700,000 per year. Council members stressed the need for a single accountable contractor. Council discussion emphasized using a construction manager at risk (CMAR) so one contractor bears responsibility for delivery; Dolbeck said contracts will include liquidated-damages clauses so the CMAR would pay for hauling costs if deadlines are missed.

Councilman Workman pressed for a clear point person and for the consultant to validate technology alternatives; Dolbeck and landfill staff said they will present a 30% design to council before final bid documents, at which point cost estimates should be more definite.

The council approved a motion "to authorize and accept the consulting agreement with Civil and Environmental Consultants Inc. for PFAS consultation for RLP liquids technologies," with Councilman Gagnaga moving and Councilman Workman seconding. Mayor Swift and all council members present voted yes.

Next steps: Staff said they will continue design to 30% completion, perform additional bench and pilot testing, finalize CMAR procurement, and return to council with design drawings and updated cost estimates. The council directed staff to include contract provisions placing responsibility for additional equipment or process changes on the contractor/engineer at no additional cost to the city.

Officials cautioned that the schedule is constrained by permit requirements and that the May-to-September compliance window cited in discussion will require the project to show substantial progress to avoid enforcement issues.