Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Treatment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Oak Ridge officials flag contractor quality problems and schedule risk at water treatment plant
Summary
New utilities director Carrie Aiken told the council that contractor supervision and workmanship problems have caused rework and delayed the water-treatment plant project; Bowen Engineering toured the site and staff expect a response within about 10 business days while the contractor schedule still lists a June 8 completion date.
Carrie Aiken, the city’s newly appointed utilities director, told Oak Ridge City Council that inspections and a same-day site review with Bowen Engineering turned up multiple quality-control and supervision deficiencies on the city’s water treatment plant project. "I just felt like coming in for my background... if we didn't push, that it wasn't it was just gonna continue," Aiken said, summarizing her concerns after an on-site meeting with the contractor and Bowen site leadership.
Aiken said she met with Bowen’s president and project superintendent and walked the intake, piping and membrane areas, documenting instances where pumps were installed in standing water that could harm seals and where work had been installed out of specification. She said Jacobs, the city engineer on the project, has repeatedly logged issues that had not been addressed and that the resident inspector has kept detailed documentation of those concerns.
The city asked Bowen to review the construction team’s supervision and to accelerate corrections; Bowen agreed to evaluate the items discussed and Aiken said she expects a response within roughly 10 business days. "He was very open to our suggestions and our concerns," Aiken said of Bowen’s reaction.
Council members pressed for clarity on responsibility and warranty coverage. Staff said responsibility for remedial work will depend on the item but noted construction bonds, stated warranty periods (typically at least a year), and Jacobs’ role in commissioning and documenting the plant’s readiness. "We will have a professional here in-house solving this through that transition period up until the point where we...try it properly," a staff member said, describing anticipated support during commissioning.
City staff asked council to receive monthly water-plant updates; Mayor and council members agreed the item warrants continued monitoring and frequent status reports. The consultant and the contractor told the city they would develop a punch list and review near-term actions to recover time, but staff cautioned the project had already lost work days and that the June 8 completion date shown in the contractor schedule remains at risk.
Next steps: Bowen is expected to report back to the city with a plan for addressing identified issues; staff said they will continue inspections, document corrective steps, and update council at the next regular meeting. The city will withhold final acceptance until Jacobs and staff confirm the plant operates according to specifications and warranty/commissioning procedures are satisfied.
