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Home My WebLink About08/18/1992, C-9 - REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - (WW 92-08) MANAGEMENT AND DISPOSAL/RECLAMATION OF WASTEWATER SLUDGE (BIOSOLIDS) �IIIIIII�III�IIIIIIIIII�IIIIIII "J r MEETING DATE: ��Illlu�� u Ct o san �.��s oB�spo AuKust 18, 1992 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT ITEM NUMBERS FROM: William T. Hetland Prepared By: John E. Moss Utilities Director Wastewater Division Manager SUBJECT: Request for Proposals - (WW 92-08) Management and Disposal/Reclamation of Wastewater Sludge (Biosolids) CAO RECOMMENDATION: Approve RFP for Operations and Maintenance Services for Management and Disposal/Reclamation of City's Biosolids and authorize Staff to solicit proposals. Authorize CAO to award contract if lowest responsible proposal is within the Staff's estimate. DISCUSSION: Over the past several years the City has experienced significant difficulty in management and disposal/reclamation of the sludge residuals (biosolids) from the wastewater treatment process. In 1987 it was discovered that the City's biosolids contained levels of soluble lead in excess of State requirements and the biosolids were considered a hazardous material. After lengthy analyses of the biosolids and the filing of a petition to the State Department of Health Services, the City received a non-hazardous determination for the biosolids. Biosolids currently being produced at the facility meet all applicable criteria as a non-hazardous material. In July 1990, proposals were sought for disposal/reclamation of approximately 7, 000 cubic yards of biosolids stockpiled at the City's Water Reclamation Facility. After lengthy negotiations with the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, a contract with Bio-Gro Inc. was approved by Council and the stockpiled biosolids were applied as an agricultural soil amendment at the Gardner Ranch near Buellton California in May 1991. Staff was attempting at that time to negotiate a long term contract for disposal/reclamation of the biosolids, however regulatory constraints imposed by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board would not allow the City to continue application of its biosolids on the Gardner Ranch on an on- going basis. O Staff's next course of action was to attempt to identify a lower cost, local solution to the City's problem with biosolids. A program for composting the biosolids with wood e. / . i��N��u►I�IIIIIIIIIP°°'1°I��l��il city Of San WIS OBISPO Kula; COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Biosolids RFP August 18, 1992 Page 2 chips generated by the City Parks Division and agricultural land application to City owned properties located adjacent to the Water Reclamation Facility and Laguna Lake Park was brought before Council on March 24, 1992. This program was rejected by Council as it was not consistent with Council direction regarding the aesthetics of the- southerly entrance to the City. Staff was directed by Council to pursue i negotiations with local area landowners and Cal Poly in an effort to establish a local agricultural land application program. Staff has made extensive efforts in this regard i and to date has been unsuccessful in locating a willing i landowner. Several contacts have been made with Cal Poly and there seems to be very little interest in participating in a biosolids reclamation program with the City. The stockpiles at the City's Water Reclamation Facility have again accumulated to a point where removal is critical. There is currently estimated to be approximately 4, 000 cubic yards of biosolids being stockpiled. With all other options being nearly exhausted or proceeding at a pace which is inconsistent with current needs, staff has prepared the attached RFP and is seeking approval to solicit proposals from qualified firms with permitted disposal/reuse sites. Staff proposes to give selection preference to firms proposing to beneficially reuse the biosolids. Staff does not foresee any alternatives to the recommended action which will satisfy the current need for immediate disposal/reuse. Staff does intend to continue to seek local options and work with other local agencies in developing various programs for composting and reuse of the biosolids. FISCAL IMPACT Staff estimates that approximately $150, 000 will be required to remove existing stockpiles as well as that being generated during the 1992-93 fiscal year. Additional biosolids remaining from the cleaning of #3 anaerobic digester late in 1991, has added to the amount of funding required to support this program. Funding for disposal/reclamation of the biosolids has been identified in the 1991-93 Financial Plan. $50, 000 approved funding is available in the 1992-93 Water Reclamation Facility Operating Program Budget. An additional $100, 000 in funding has been carried over into the 1992-93 budget also for this purpose. Therefore adequate funding is available to support a disposal/reuse program. This request is being made in .4 ��»nu►filllllllllll1° iIUIU MY Of San LuIs OBISp0 COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Biosolids RFP August 18, 1992 Page 3 accordance with City purchasing control guidelines 207-J, Contracting for Operation and Maintenance Services. ALTERNATIVES I Staff believes there is no legitimate alternative to proceeding with the RFP as recommended. Staff is continuing to pursue other options for disposal/reuse of the City's biosolids, however these options will not address the immediate need of the City to remove the existing stockpiles from the Water Reclamation Facility. Continued storage of the accumulated biosolids may pose a threat to environmental and water quality should heavy rains occur this winter and cause off-site migration of the biosolids. PFP available in Council Office for inspection. I I I I Cj/-3