Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Treatment Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board authorizes annual open purchase orders after suppliers cite sharp price hikes for treatment chemicals
Summary
Englewood approved aggregate purchase authorization for bulk treatment chemicals after staff presented a roughly 75% price increase for aluminum sulfate and related increases that raise the city’s 2026 projected spend to about $372,000.
The Englewood City Water and Sewer Board authorized annual open purchase orders for bulk treatment chemicals after staff presented supply and price pressures for critical inputs used in drinking-water treatment.
Zach Almasi, the city’s water operations manager, said "aluminum sulfate is our primary coagulant" and that vendor Chemtrade — which supplies much of the front range — experienced tariff-related cost increases that have been passed to customers. Almasi reported an approximately 75 percent increase in the product and presented projected 2026 aggregate amounts: about $316,000 for aluminum sulfate and $56,000 for liquid ammonium sulfate, totaling $372,000.
Board members pressed staff on whether alternative suppliers exist and whether cooperative purchasing could be re-bid sooner. Staff explained the city participates in MAPO, a municipal cooperative procurement process, and noted large-volume infrastructure (tanker distribution and manufacturing capacity) constrains the number of viable suppliers for front-range utilities. Staff emphasized procurement weighs reliability as well as price because emergency deliveries are critical to water treatment operations.
Chair Moore requested a motion to approve the item as written; the board authorized the open purchase orders by voice vote.
