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SCADA retrofit on track; wells low amid drought; sewer blockage costly
Summary
Board heard that the SCADA/plant retrofit is targeted for late March–April with the contractor Ericsson and that the project is currently under budget; operators reported low groundwater levels and a state-issued outdoor water restriction, and a sewer blockage required a $25,100 vac truck and a ~$6,000 pump rebuild.
The board received operations updates across water and sewer systems.
SCADA and water-treatment: Staff said the SCADA/plant retrofit (contractor named as Ericsson) is proceeding as a retrofit and that reuse of existing control cabinets helped reduce costs. Staff reported the startup and system run date is targeted for late March or April; the project was reported to be roughly $115,000 under the current budget allocation. The board discussed the need to hold funds for unforeseen change orders, the availability of spare PLCs and spare parts and the plan to use retained contingency for later change orders.
Wells and drought: Operators reported multiple wells with water levels several feet lower than normal (examples given as roughly 3–4 feet of drawdown at some wells). The state has issued Tier 3 outdoor restrictions that stop outside irrigation; the board discussed communication and modest enforcement tools (signage, door hangers, social-media posts and door-to-door warnings) and acknowledged practical limits on enforcement.
Sewer operations: Staff described a recent blockage at a main lift station consisting largely of solid wipes; clearing required a vac truck that cost about $25,100, and a pump removal/rebuild cost was cited at roughly $6,000. Staff said the problem appears localized to the pumping-station area rather than attributable to a single commercial source.
Next steps: staff will continue to manage startup tasks for the SCADA retrofit, pursue parts and spare inventories once the system is turned over, proceed to clean Well 5 once the final bid is accepted, and continue outreach on drought restrictions to residents.
