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PUC approves pump replacement after corrosion-damaged unit disabled WTP backup
Summary
The Public Utilities Commission approved contracting work to replace a failed raw-water pump at the water treatment plant and to rebuild a long-serving finished-water motor; staff said the unit failed after corrosion led to an electrical fault and the replacement is needed before summer service demands.
The Public Utilities Commission voted to approve contracting work to replace a failed raw-water pump at the city water treatment plant and to rebuild a motor on a finished-water pump, commissioners said.
Scott, a commission member who led the presentation, said the pump "was originally for cooling the old power plant" and "failed last summer," then the subsequent replacement was taken out by "an electrical issue due to a bunch of corrosion in the water plant." He told the commission the recommended new raw pump would be capable of roughly 420–425 gallons per minute, enabling faster recovery of the plant's clear well during high-use periods.
Why it matters: The plant currently relies on a combination of older raw and finished pumps; staff said two raw pumps rebuilt last summer produce about 300 gallons per minute together and that the new raw pump would allow the plant to keep up during routine operations and quicken recovery after backwash or other transient events. Rebuilding the finish-pump motor (after roughly 30 years of service) was described as the most cost-efficient option compared with buying a new pump.
Contract and cost details: Staff recommended Midwest Pump and Milky Electric (names as presented in the meeting packet) to perform the pump replacement and electrical/motor work. The clerk moved to approve the bid listed during the discussion; the meeting transcript lists a bid figure shown as "$19,2845" but the precise dollar amount was unclear in the recording and is therefore not represented as a verified contract value in this report. Commissioners voted to approve the work and staff said the contractor expects to complete installation in a couple of weeks so the plant is ready for the summer/tour season.
What happens next: Staff will proceed with the vendor engagement and return to the commission if additional approvals are required for related work. The plant team said its goal is to have the new pump installed by the end of the month.
