Council approves $2.7M procurement of ion-exchange media for PFAS treatment after questions on future removal costs

The Eau Claire City Council on Oct. 28 removed a consent item to question details of a proposed procurement for ion-exchange media used in the city's PFAS water-treatment process and then approved the purchase.

The item (procurement number 2020-540) awards purchase of ion-exchange media; staff told council the contract will be funded from the water capital balance and that the council's packet and staff presentation include details about optional future services. Three vendors submitted bids; staff said two bidders declined to price a future option (item 3) for removal and cleaning of the vessel once the media reaches end-of-life, and one bidder included that option price. The apparent low bidder for the media, Calgon Carbon Corporation, did not include a fixed bid amount for the long-term removal and cleaning option but provided a verbal estimate on request. Utilities staff reported that Calgon's product performed best in column testing and that the media is expected to provide three to five years of service before replacement is needed.

Staff told the council they can add contract language to provide price protections if the city wants an explicit price or price band for removal within a defined time window; they also said the city would conduct a future procurement or re-evaluate options when replacement is required. The council asked for and was told staff would include such contract-language options as the agreement is finalized.

The council approved the procurement by voice/roll-call vote after discussion. The vote on the separate consent item passed unanimously.