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Water board approves SSR task order for departmentwide arc‑flash safety study
Summary
The Water Resources Board approved a task order with engineering firm SSR to conduct a departmentwide arc‑flash study, a code‑required electrical safety assessment, at an estimated cost of about $129,000 funded from working capital reserves.
The Water Resources Board voted to approve a task order for engineering firm SSR to perform a departmentwide arc‑flash study of the utility’s electrical systems, board members confirmed during their meeting. The work is intended to identify arc‑flash hazards, update labeling and maintenance protocols, and recommend personal protective equipment and procedures for staff.
Board members were told the study is required by code and that SSR previously performed similar work for the department. Staff estimated the task order at roughly $129,000 and said the contract will be funded from working capital reserves. The presenter said carrying out the study across the entire department at once will create scale savings and reduce the risk that some facilities are missed.
Staff described arc flash as a high‑hazard electrical event that can occur during a voltage surge and can cause explosive effects in air gaps around electrical equipment. The study will locate hazards, propose updated maintenance protocols, and identify protective equipment and scheduling recommendations.
Board members asked about the last time parts of the system were labeled; staff said some labels dated to 2016 and that routine five‑year re‑labeling had caused a patchwork of older studies. Staff said doing the full department at once will help avoid gaps where some sites have not been recently reviewed.
A motion to approve the task order carried by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded in the meeting transcript. Staff will proceed with SSR and return to the board if further approvals are required after study scope refinements or additional work requests.
