Commission approves $3.5 million Crest Avenue construction services and other wastewater measures

Winter Garden commissioners on Thursday approved a $3,497,610.63 purchase order for construction-phase services with Atkins Realis for work on the Crest Avenue wastewater treatment project and also approved related wastewater-system measures, all by unanimous votes.

Staff told the commission the construction-phase scope includes construction project management, document control, site visits, shop-drawing reviews, equipment commissioning and operation manuals. A staff presenter said the current proposal is about $250,000 less than a previously discussed deductive change order and recommended approval of the $3,497,610.63 purchase order. "Staff would recommend approving the purchase order for the construction phase services with Atkins Realis in the amount of $3,497,610.63," the staff member said.

The commission also approved a recommended purchase of communications equipment and installation for 44 of the city's 94 sanitary sewer lift stations. Staff said the city will buy equipment for $36,055.03 and hire Process Control Services LLC for installation at a price of $118,228, for a combined total of $154,283.03 for this phase. The presentation noted the work addresses recurring communications failures: one lift station recorded 329 communication failures in January before receiving the upgraded hardware and software and then recorded zero failures after the update. Staff estimated an eventual 80–90% reduction in overtime responses once all 94 stations are upgraded.

Commissioners separately approved a one-year continuing supply and use of a magnesium-hydroxide solution (referred to in the meeting as Thioguard) to reduce hydrogen sulfide generation in the collection system. Staff recommended an estimated one-year cost of $417,000, including a 10% contingency, saying the chemical helps keep hydrogen sulfide in solution to reduce odor complaints and corrosion in the collection system. Staff described the chemical as an interim operational measure while the city builds and commissions new treatment facilities and noted that odor-control measures at future plants will remain part of the long-term plan.

On operational details, staff said the chemical is injected upstream at larger pump stations (the presentation named the Stony Brook station as an example) because it takes time to react in the system. The staff presentation also noted that hydrogen sulfide is corrosive and that keeping it in a liquid state reduces damage to pipes and concrete.

All motions on the Crest Avenue services, the lift-station communications upgrades, and the Thioguard supply were moved and seconded on the floor and carried unanimously.

The approvals advance the city's ongoing wastewater upgrades and short-term odor-control strategy while construction and longer-term plant improvements proceed.