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Council approves additional work and replacement venturi for water treatment plant rehab
Summary
City council approved additional construction and a replacement venturi valve for the ongoing water treatment plant rehabilitation project, using contingency funds and existing project budgets; council discussed timelines and supply delays for replacement valves.
The Odessa City Council on March 25 approved additional work on the city's water treatment plant rehabilitation and separately authorized purchase of a replacement venturi and valve setup for a main backwash line.
Council voted after staff described an unforeseen need to install a hydraulic relief T between Clear Wells 2 and 3 and to add a bypass so all three clear wells remain in service while the work is performed. Utilities staff said the city can fund the change from the current project purchase order (PO) and contingency balance.
Utilities staff said the contractor's change will be covered from contingency funds already moved into the PO; $626,782 remained in the PO and the city would retain about $3,704,000 in the overall contingency fund after the transfer. The staff presentation said the work will allow the plant to increase capacity from 40 million gallons per day to 55 million gallons per day when complete.
The utilities presenter told the council that several valves that would allow isolation of the clear wells cannot be obtained quickly — new valves were estimated at 20 to 30 weeks out — so the contractor will install line stops and a bypass now and the city will replace the valves later as a separate effort funded in the valve replacement program.
On the venturi purchase, staff said the valve dates to 1986 and, while currently operable, is showing wear; the replacement is budgeted and intended as a precaution so backwashing of filters is not interrupted if the old valve fails.
Council members asked for clarification of the cost documents (a misprint in the packet was corrected on the record) and pressed for completion dates. Staff said the contractor’s projected completion date in its CPM schedule is Sept. 23 (year as provided by contractor). Council approved the additional work and the venturi purchase unanimously.
Council and staff framed these votes as moves to keep the project on schedule without forcing the plant to operate with fewer clear wells than state requirements permit; staff emphasized the valve lead times as the reason for the temporary bypass approach.
