VIDEO. From the Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) Directors meeting on Monday, November 8th, 2021 at 7:00pm by Zoom.

Executive Summary

The purpose of this report is for the Board of Directors to discuss and authorize the General Manager to issue a Purchase Order to Vapex Environmental Technologies for supply of odor control unit for Pump stations.

Fiscal Impact

The cost is $149,940 (taxes excluded) for two units and $86,700 for one unit. Included in the FY 20-21 budget. is $125,000.

Strategic Plan Compliance

The recommendation complies with the SAM Strategic Plan’s Vision: “Utilize state of the art technologies and management practices to advance public health and environmental protection.” It also complies with the Strategic Plan’s Goal 5: Infrastructure, Operations and Maintenance: “The goals are no spills, safety, environmental protection, reliability, and long-term cost effectiveness.”

Background and Discussion/Report

Over approximately the past twenty years SAM has injected Sodium Hypochlorite (high concentration liquid bleach) into the wet well at both the Montara and Princeton Pump Stations to control corrosion and odors at the Portola Pump Station. The Portola Pump Station is equipped with an odor control biofilter which is not very effective. There has been constant complaints from people in the neighborhood of the Portola Pump Station of the odors.

Staff considered various options including changing to feed Calcium Nitrate and control the dose rate. This option was not very cost effective and required use of tanks and chemicals which is not a very favorable environmentally friendly solution.

Staff checked out the Vapex Odor Control unit and carried out pilot trials at the Portola Pump station for a period of almost 2 months from 7/19/21 to 9/8/21. The results were encouraging and there were no complaints of odor during that period. Also, staff carried out pilot trials at Princeton Pump Station for a period of almost 1 month from 9/13/21 to 10/21/21. Princeton PS has a history of collection of Fats, Oils and Greases (FOG) and this unit proved to be very effective in breaking down the FOG and has showed good results. No bleach will be required to be injected at the Princeton Pump Station if this unit is installed at Princeton PS.

The Vapex Odor Control Technology is a vapor phase treatment that treats odors, remediates surface fats, oils, and grease, and mitigates microbial induced corrosion. A three fluid nozzle produces less than 5-micron sized water particles. The water particles combine with Ozone, a strong oxidant, to produce a powerful oxidant known as hydroxyl radical.

The unit treats odors in the space where the odors are generated. It only requires air, electricity, and water to generate the oxidants. There is no need to add any chemicals.

The average annual maintenance costs are approximately $3,000.

Staff has received a proposal from Vapex for the following:

1. Odor Control Unit for Portola PS- $86,700

2. Odor Control Unit for Princeton PS- $85,680

3. Odor Control Unit for both Portola and Princeton PS- $149,940 (saving of approximately $22,440 if we do a combined purchase now)

The Board has the following options:

Option1- Authorize to purchase one unit for Portola for $86,700

Option2- Authorize to purchase two units for $149,940

Staff Recommendation Staff recommends the Board authorize General Manager to issue a Purchase order to Vapex Environmental Technologies for supply of Odor Control unit for Portola PS and Princeton PS in an amount not to exceed $149,940 (taxes excluded).

Full Staff Report

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Author: Coastside Buzz

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