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Council approves $435,000 low‑flow irrigation system to stop sand infiltration at Timnath Reservoir
Summary
After several seasons of sand infiltration and costly potable water use, council approved a contract with Polarized Water Solutions to build a new above‑ground filtration and storage system to run the reservoir landscaping from on‑site wells. The vendor's low bid was $435,000; the total project estimate on staff materials was $1,406,000.
Town staff told council on Feb. 11 that the Timnath Reservoir irrigation system has suffered repeated sand infiltration since 2022 and that the town relied on expensive potable water in 2023–24 while temporary fixes were tested.
Staff presented a redesigned system that moves filtration above ground, adds two 21,000‑gallon enclosed storage tanks, four filtration stages (down to 1 micron), electrical pumping and telemetry for remote operation. The layout is intended to allow steady low flows to reduce agitation of sand in the wells, permit easier maintenance and provide redundancy so components can be taken offline without shutting down irrigation.
The town received seven bids and recommended award to Polarized Water Solutions as the lowest competent bidder. Staff presented the bid and project budget figures in the packet: contract amount listed as $435,000 for Polarized Water Solutions, additional line items for materials testing, telemetry upgrades and construction administration produced a subtotal shown as $508,500, a contingency of $48,003.50 and a stated total project estimate of $1,406,000. Staff also noted the original 2025 budget estimate was $250,000 and explained the scope changed after analysis of the temporary system.
Council questioned prior expenditures on temporary fixes and the operational cost profile; staff said operational costs would be primarily staff time, filter replacement and pumping electricity but did not have a precise annual number at the hearing. Staff said the vendor guaranteed delivery of the major tanks and expected the system could be installed and operational in time for the summer watering season, with Polarized Water Solutions indicating readiness to meet the town’s May timeline.
Council approved Resolution No. 10, Series 2025, awarding the contract; the recorded vote carried unanimously.
Staff framed the system as a long‑term solution to the well sand problem, explaining the earlier system design and sand separators had not been effective and that above‑ground tanks and staged filtration were the preferred approach. The council and staff discussed alternatives and risks, including long lead times for tanks and the higher cost of continuing to use potable water.
