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Council authorizes engineering contract for water-plant electrical upgrades; consultant work not to exceed $1.189 million
Summary
The council authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Black & Veatch for up to $1,189,000 in engineering services for electrical improvements at the city’s water treatment plant; staff recommended converting the plant’s aging 2.4 kV distribution to a 480-volt configuration and consolidating multiple utility feeds.
Salisbury City Council on Jan. 21 authorized the city manager to execute a contract with Black & Veatch International Company for engineering services related to electrical improvements at the city’s water treatment plant, in an amount not to exceed $1,189,000.
The contract covers detailed design, construction documents and bidding/award services for a project the city describes as necessary to replace aging electrical distribution equipment at the water plant. Director Jason Wilson told the council the plant’s original equipment dates largely from the 1990s or earlier and that parts are increasingly difficult to obtain. The plant is currently rated at 24,000,000 gallons per day.
Wilson and staff described two voltage options that were evaluated: upgrading to 4,160 volts or standardizing on 480 volts. After evaluating space, equipment fit, staff safety and cost, staff recommended 480 volts so the new switchgear can be placed in an existing former chlorine building and to better match staff expertise. Wilson said the consultant’s construction estimate for the replacement work is approximately $9,000,000; the council authorized only the engineering-services contract that night.
Council discussion reviewed redundancy, growth capacity and coordination with Duke Energy. One council member noted the city had engaged Duke Energy to examine redundant feed options. Wilson said staff incorporated projected growth and capacity so the 480-volt solution should support planned expansion and additional pump capacity; he also said some larger future raw-water pumps would be rated at 4,160 volts but that the 480-volt recommendation met the city’s projected needs without the extra site work and costs of a larger gear building.
The motion to authorize execution of the not-to-exceed $1,189,000 engineering contract carried by voice vote.
Ending: Staff said the engineering contract follows the city’s approved capital-improvement plan and that construction would be scheduled in future fiscal years; the council approved the engineering agreement and directed staff to proceed with design work.
