Utility advisory commission backs Pentair rebuild for Hillsdale intake pump

The Gardner City Utility Advisory Commission voted March 5 to recommend that the City Council approve a contract with Pentair Cogep to rebuild a failed intake pump at the Hillsdale water treatment plant.

Staff presented the item, saying a tear-down showed bearing failure and that repairing the unit would cost $41,755 while a new pump and motor would cost $88,594. “The cost to repair that pump is $41,755,” said the staff member leading the presentation, who recommended repairs to maintain service and redundancy in the near term.

Commissioners pressed staff on the long-term plan and warranty differences. Staff said the city is redesigning the Hillsdale intake to replace submersible pumps with vertical turbine pumps, and that the repair is intended as an interim step. The staff member noted a one-year warranty typically accompanies the repair and that extending a three-year warranty on a new pump would add roughly $8,800–$9,000 to the purchase price.

Staff argued timing and parts availability weighed in favor of repairing now to preserve backups as the city moves toward the new intake project: “We’re pump happy,” the staff member said, explaining the department planned to repair multiple pumps to restore redundancy.

Committee member (S4) moved to approve the Pentair rebuild recommendation; Committee member (S5) seconded. The chair called a voice vote and announced the motion carried. Staff confirmed the commission’s approval will be forwarded to the City Council for final authorization.

The commission’s recommendation does not itself award a city contract; it directs the city council to consider entering the agreement. Staff said the intake redesign is at roughly 60% engineering and that bids and a project timeline are expected in the coming months.