FROM: Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Riaz Moinuddin, Director of Operations & Maintenance
SUBJECT:
title
EMERGENCY DECLARATION FOR PLANT NO. 1 HEADWORKS PIPE REPAIR
end
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION:
Ratify approval of an Emergency Repair Sole Source Purchase Order to Jamison Engineering, Inc. for Sunflower Trunkline Pipe Emergency Repair, for an amount not to exceed $250,000.
body
BACKGROUND
On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, Sunflower Pump No. 2 failed. Sunflower Pump No.1 was already removed and sent off-site for refurbishment under a construction project. While staff was rerouting flows, water levels in the Sunflower Trunkline began to rise. The higher water levels pressurized a weakness in the top quarter of the pipe which is normally above the water level, causing the pipe to fail. Wastewater was discharged into the basement of the Metering structure, partially filling the room. Staff responded immediately by isolating the pipeline, bypassing the flow to Plant No. 2, and pumping wastewater from the basement into the Euclid Trunkline.
On Wednesday, May 1, 2024, the in-plant spill was contained and Jamison Engineering, Inc. was called to help assess the damage. The inspection by OC San engineers and Jamison identified an 18-inch-long by one-inch-wide hole in the pipe. Severe corrosion on the pipe and flange were noted. Due to the impact to the facility and the severe deterioration, OC San’s General Manager and Board Chairman agreed that the repair of the damaged trunk line required emergency procurement under section 1.07 B of the Orange County Sanitation District’s (OC San) Purchasing Ordinance No. OC SAN-61 and an emergency was declared.
After an internal inspection on Thursday, May 2, 2024, an estimated 60% of metal in the top half of the short piece of 84” pipe penetrating the wall was corroded away, jeopardizing the overall support for the pipe. This repair is approaching $250,000 for corrosion abatement, internal and external weld repairs, and external pipe support.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Protect OC San assets
• Protect public safety
PROBLEM
Sunflower Trunkline pipe corroded, and when surcharged due to the pump failure, caused a large sewage spill in the Metering and Diversion Building basement. All the wastewater was captured and pumped into the Euclid Trunkline.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Make repairs to a short section of 84” pipe entering the metering structure pursuant to the General Manager’s use of emergency purchasing authority pursuant to Ordinance No. OC SAN-61, Section 1.07.B, Emergency Procurement.
TIMING CONCERNS
If not repaired, continuous bypassing to Plant No. 2 may occur, causing a disruption in the process and impacting flows to OCWD.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
Failure to make appropriate repairs could result in further downtime and continuous bypass of 10-15 MGD of wastewater to Plant No. 2.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
N/A
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The P1-105 Headworks Rehabilitation at Plant No. 1 project is scheduled to replace these trunk lines tentatively scheduled for September 2026 to extend the useful life of the trunklines in the Metering and Diversion Structure.
CEQA
N/A
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
This request complies with authority levels of OC San’s Purchasing Ordinance. This recommendation will be funded under the Plant No. 1 and Plant No. 2 Maintenance Department, Budget Update 2023-24, Page 39. The available funding is sufficient for this action.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
N/A