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Commission approves water-conservation plan, awards sludge contract and signs EPA technical-assistance agreement
Summary
The commission approved a water‑conservation plan, awarded a sludge-transport contract, accepted EPA technical-assistance for wastewater design and rejected bids for a North Lopez sewer project, with staff to pursue in‑house work or revised procurement.
The Rio Grande City Commission on May 20 took a series of actions on water and wastewater work: it adopted a water-conservation plan, approved a sludge‑transport contract, accepted a technical‑assistance agreement tied to EPA funds for final wastewater-design services and rejected contractor bids for a North Lopez sanitary‑sewer collection project.
Public-utility staff presented the water-conservation plan, saying new meters the city has installed include AMI leak detection that will help identify leaks and reduce water loss. The department reported a 10% water-loss figure for April, which staff said represented an improvement over previous months.
The commission voted to adopt the conservation plan as presented. Project staff said conservation measures include replacing meters with AMI‑capable units, adjusting storage‑tank operations to prevent overflow, and continued flushing and authorized operational discharges.
On wastewater, commission members approved awarding the city’s sludge-transport and disposal contract to the lower bidder after staff analysis; staff reported the contractor had already begun removal operations. The commission also accepted a technical‑assistance agreement from the EPA (via the grant administrator) for $497,000 in design and surveying services for a wastewater-collection system — staff told the commission that figure is split roughly between design ($332,000) and surveying ($165,000) and that earlier work already completed will be submitted for reimbursement.
Separately, the commission rejected bids received for the North Lopez sanitary-sewer collection project because the low bids exceeded the city’s budget; staff indicated they will explore performing the scope in house to reduce cost and will return with an updated procurement plan.
No new utility rate changes were adopted at the meeting. Several commissioners emphasized the need for coordinated review and controls before the city signs contracts or pays vendor invoices, and staff said they will continue to seek reimbursement for eligible costs under the EPA program.
