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Port Richey council approves $13,000 emergency purchase to replace leaking chlorine tank
Summary
The Port Richey City Council approved an emergency purchase of a 1,050‑gallon sodium hypochlorite storage tank after a water plant employee discovered an interior leak in a double‑walled tank. Council approved buying the lowest bid, roughly $13,000, and staff said the vendor will transfer the chemical during installation.
Port Richey’s City Council voted to approve an emergency purchase of a 1,050‑gallon sodium hypochlorite bulk storage tank after a water plant employee discovered an interior leak in one wall of an existing double‑walled chlorine tank.
City Manager Andrew Butterfield told the council he was seeking emergency approval “due to environmental impacts and the inability to produce any potable water if the current tank would have completely failed.” He said the lowest bid for a replacement was $13,000.
The purchase was prompted by a leak through the inner wall of the fiberglass tank; council and staff said the leak has passed the first wall but not the secondary containment. Butterfield said the leak is “about 6 feet up on the tank” and that staff will limit how high they fill the existing tank until the replacement is installed.
The tank is 17 years old and staff said outdoor tanks typically last about seven years, while an indoor installation lasts about 10 years. Council discussed temporary measures and asked whether a patch would suffice; staff said the failure is on the inside of the inner wall and that a safe, long‑term repair would require taking the tank out of service.
The council identified Guardian as the vendor to perform the work, noting Guardian has done work for the city before and can transfer the chlorine from the damaged tank to the new tank when they “come to install the new tank.” Staff gave mixed delivery estimates: a vendor form listed 10 to 12 weeks, but Butterfield said delivery was expected in roughly two to four weeks.
A voice vote approved the emergency purchase and the selection of Guardian. No roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes.
The council and staff framed the purchase as urgent because a complete inner‑wall failure could cause environmental contamination and disrupt water production. Staff said the new tank will be ordered immediately and the vendor will bring a spare to enable an on‑site transfer at installation.
The council did not specify funding line‑item details on the record beyond approving the emergency purchase. Staff indicated they had sought multiple vendors and selected the lowest responsive bid.
The city will proceed with ordering the tank, schedule the vendor swap, and monitor the existing tank at reduced fill levels until installation is complete.
