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Staff outlines options after power losses; single permanent generator quoted at $401,000 and 55-week lead time
Summary
Water superintendent said a permanent 650 kW generator to run a Quichapa well was quoted at $401,000 with about a 55-week lead, and staff and council discussed bonding, phased purchases and grant options to increase system resilience.
Water Superintendent Matt Baker told the council that a loss of power can take multiple wells offline quickly and that temporary, portable diesel setups can take 8–24 hours to deploy. He presented a vendor quote of about $401,000 for a permanent 650-kilowatt generator sized to run a 600-horsepower well motor and stressed long lead times.
"This bid I have right now for a 650K generator that'll run our 600-horsepower motor at Quichapa is $401,000," Baker said, adding the manufacturer lead time is about 55 weeks. Baker recommended a phased approach to equip key wells and booster pumps and said the city's larger pressure-reduction project includes generation in its scope.
Councilmembers and staff discussed funding options, including rolling generators into a bond for the pressure-reduction project, seeking BRIC or other grant funding for emergency generation, or purchasing a limited number of permanent units immediately from capital reserves to mitigate risk while the larger project proceeds. Fire Chief Mike Phillips said the department can operate via drafting and water tenders in short outages but emphasized that hydrants and normal supply are critical for firefighting operations.
Council asked staff and the engineering consultant to model emergency supply scenarios (how many wells on generators are required to sustain essential service) and to return with cost and funding options before final procurement.
