FROM: Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Lan C. Wiborg, Director of Environmental Services
SUBJECT:
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REPLACEMENT OF CONDUCTIVITY-TEMPERATURE-DEPTH (CTD) WATER QUALITY SAMPLING SYSTEM FOR OCEAN MONITORING
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
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RECOMMENDATION:
A. Approve a sole source purchase order to Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. for a conductivity-temperature-depth water quality sampling system in the amount of $156,001, plus applicable sales tax, and
B. Approve a contingency of $7,800 (5%).
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BACKGROUND
The conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD) sampler, commonly used by ocean discharging wastewater agencies, measures a suite of offshore water quality parameters on a monthly to quarterly basis as required by Orange County Sanitation District's (OC San) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and Ocean Monitoring Program. The CTD is operated onboard the Motor Vessel Nerissa where it is lowered through the water column approximately 184 times quarterly to collect key compliance water quality data including conductivity, temperature, depth, dissolved oxygen, pH, water clarity, light penetration, colored dissolved organic material, and chlorophyll. The CTD connects to a water sampler to collect discrete water samples from depths prescribed in the NPDES permit. The measured parameters are used to detect the location of OC San's discharged effluent plume and monitor the quality of receiving waters to ensure protection of beneficial uses.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
* Comply with environmental permit requirements
* Maintain a culture of improving efficiency to reduce the cost to provide the current service level or standard
* Commitment to safety & reducing risk in all operations
PROBLEM
The current CTD sampler being used is eight years old and the back-up CTD sampler is 15 years old. The manufacturer recommended lifespan is 7-10 years. With increasing age, the sampling unit becomes les...
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