Soledad council authorizes consultant assessment of wastewater reclamation facility; Black & Veatch recommended

Council unanimously approved a resolution to pursue a consultant assessment of Soledad’s wastewater reclamation facility and authorized staff to negotiate terms with the recommended firm.

Public works director Don Wilcox told the council the plant — constructed between roughly 2008 and 2010 at an original cost reported at about $50–$60 million — is reaching the end of the useful life for several major components. "A lot of the major components are starting to wear out," Wilcox said, and he warned that work will be needed to address permit compliance, safety, reliability and energy efficiency, particularly as recycled-water permitting requirements tighten.

Staff conducted an RFP process and interviewed top firms; Black & Veatch — the plant designer — was recommended by the review committee because of familiarity with the facility’s original design files and experience with comparable assessments. Wilcox said staff will return to council with assessment findings and a phased recommendation and that initial upgrade estimates could range into the low millions depending on scope; he cited a preliminary expectation that some scenarios might be on the order of $5 million for rehabilitation and energy-efficiency upgrades, with a final number to be confirmed by the consultant.

The council approved Resolution No. 6101 on a voice vote; staff committed to scheduling tours of the facility for council members and to returning with the consultant’s scope and cost estimates once the assessment is complete.