Subject: AGREEMENT
WITH BROWN AND CALDWELL – SOUTH BAY WATER RECYCLING
RECOMMENDATION
Approval of an agreement with Brown and Caldwell for Professional Engineering Services to provide design services for two new South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR) reservoirs to be located in the Evergreen and Silver Creek areas of San Jose and for construction management for the Silver Creek reservoir, for an amount is not to exceed $3.1 million, (which includes $250,000 for additional engineering support to accommodate project uncertanties), for the period September 1, 2001 through December 31, 2004.
CEQA: Negative Declaration.
The National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit issued by the Regional Water Quality Control Board for the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant) establishes a flow trigger for Plant discharges to the local salt marsh in order to protect endangered species habitat. This provision requires the Plant to take all actions reasonably necessary to maintain flows at 120 million gallons per day (mgd) or less during the dry weather season (any three consecutive months from May – October) or to a level which will prevent salt marsh conversion from further adversely impacting rare and endangered species habitat. To minimize Plant flows despite population and economic growth, the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara, joint owners of the Plant, along with the tributary agencies that it serves, prepared the Revised South Bay Action Plan that called for development of a number of flow reduction alternatives including a recycled water system.
The South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR) system was constructed initially to reduce San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant) discharges to the local salt marsh, a habitat sensitive to excessive freshwater flows during summer months. The project also provides the additional benefit of a “drought-proof” supply of water. Phase I of SBWR consisted of a transmission pump station located on Plant grounds, three intermediate booster pump stations, a reservoir (Yerba Buena), and 60 miles of distribution pipeline in San Jose, Santa Clara, and Milpitas. The system is capable of delivering 21 mgd. There are currently over 300 customers connected to the system. During the 2000 dry weather season the system delivered 10.2 mgd, primarily for landscape irrigation.
In 1997 the Regional Board adopted a Revised South Bay Action Plan that included an expanded SBWR system as one component. In 1998 the San Jose City Council approved a master planning process to identify near-term and long-term improvements to identify the most appropriate area and types of expansion to the SBWR system. The study was jointly funded by the Plant and the Santa Clara Valley Water District in order to coordinate long-term water supply and wastewater management plans.
Near Term Improvements (2001-2005) and long-term
(2010-2020) expansion alternatives were evaluated concurrently to assure
consistency between the near-term recommendations and long-term goals and
objectives. Overall, market studies and
stakeholder input identified the potential to divert an additional 10 mgd by
customers who might be connected to the system at a total cost of $185
million. A more limited project to
connect customers with an existing demand of 5 mgd at a capital cost of $82.5
million was identified to be most cost-effective by the benefit analysis
included in the Revised Plan Status Report.
This limited expansion project will include increased system storage and
pipeline looping, between Santa Clara/San Jose and Milpitas/San Jose, and
construction of two new reservoirs.
Consultant Selection
Selection of Brown and Caldwell for reservoir design was performed through a formal competitive RFQ process. The two reservoirs would be located in Evergreen off Tully Road and in Silver Creek off Yerba Buena. Each site would store approximately 4 million gallons and 5.5 million gallons respectively. Construction of the reservoirs is estimated to cost $19 million, including land acquisition and $3.1 million for project design. Reservoir construction would be the first step toward implementing the $82.5 million near-term improvements described above. Consultant services include feasibility studies, final design and construction management support, with $250,000 reserved for additional services. Reservoir design is projected to be completed by July 2002, with construction commencing in September 2002 for project startup in September 2003.
Responses from the consultant community were evaluated by a screening committee which consisted of representatives from the Environmental Services Department, the City of Santa Clara, and Santa Clara Valley Water District. Following the screening, all consultant firms were interviewed by the committee and ranked according to their respective expertise and experience. From this Consultant list, firms were identified and agreements negotiated by staff for recommendation to City Council.
The recommendations contained in the South Bay Water Recycling Development were developed in consultation with agency representatives, including staff and elected officials of the Water District, the cities of San Jose, Milpitas and Santa Clara and other agencies tributary to the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. All near-term and long-term strategies were also discussed in detail with the SBWR Citizens Advisory Committee, a group of community stakeholders including the Santa Clara County Medical Association, the San Jose Unified School District, the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Homebuilders Association, the Farm Bureau and several other business, educational and environmental groups. Both agency and community stakeholders participated in numerous planning exercises with automated decision support software which allowed them to evaluate quantitatively various project alternatives. In addition, public meetings were held in San Jose, Milpitas and Santa Clara to obtain public comment on the future use of the recycled water.
COORDINATION
This memo has been coordinated with the City Attorney’s Office. This item is scheduled to be heard at the July 12, 2001, Treatment Plant Advisory Committee meeting.
COST IMPLICATIONS
The proposed contract will be executed at a cost note to exceed $3.1 million. This cost is included in the implementation cost of $82.5 million for system expansion recommended in the Master Plan.
BUDGET REFERENCE
MBA #50, Page 68
CEQA
CEQA: Negative Declaration.
CARL W. MOSHER
Director, Environmental Services Department