Water Resource Recovery Center Facility Plan Development Request to release an RFQ and hire engineering consultantCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 027.
Copyrighted
June 17, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Water Resource Recovery Center Facility Plan Development Request to
release an RFQ to hire engineering consultant
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council approve the RFQ committee
and give authorization to release a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for
engineering services needed for the development of a facility plan for the
Water & Resource Recover Center (W RRC).
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
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All -America City
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Water Resource Recovery Center Facility Plan Development Request to
release an RFQ to hire engineering consultant
DATE: June 12, 2024
Water & Resource Recovery Center Director Deron Muehring is recommending City
Council give authorization to release a Request For Qualifications (RFQ) for
engineering services needed for the development of a facility plan for the Water &
Resource Recover Center (WRRC).
The treatment facility is approaching 70% of its maximum treatment capability in terms
of certain pollutant removal requirements. The development of an updated facility plan
at this time will allow for a complete look at both the collection system needs and the
treatment system needs of the sanitary sewer utility over the next ten to 20 years.
In addition to reviewing the effectiveness of current treatment processes, the analysis
will consider energy consumption and how improvements at the WRRC might reduce
energy costs, reduce its carbon footprint, help the City achieve its overall carbon
footprint by 50% by 2030. It will also review how best to handle inorganic waste at the
WRRC. This includes possible relocation of the WRRC decanting facility to the landfill
which could be owned and operated by the City on leased landfill property or owned
and operated by the landfill. The goal is to have that portion of the facility plan complete
in time to consider improvements as part of the FY26-30 CIP Budget process.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Deron Muehring, Water & Resource Recovery Center Director
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Deron Muehring, Water & Resource Recovery Center Director
SUBJECT: Water & Resource Recovery Center Facility Plan Development
Request to release an RFQ to hire engineering consultant
DATE: June 13, 2024
INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of this memo is to request approval to release a Request for Qualifications
(RFQ) for engineering services needed for the development of a facility plan for the Water
& Resource Recovery Center (WRRC).
BACKGROUND:
The City of Dubuque operates the Water & Resource Recovery Center providing
secondary treatment for residential, commercial, and industrial wastewaters. The
treatment facilities are complex, energy intensive, and involve high replacement costs
when units reach the end of their useful lives.
History of the City of Dubuque Wastewater Treatment Facility:
• The original facility was constructed in 1969.
• A 1975 addition added secondary treatment systems, secondary sludge handling,
and modifications to the incinerator. The additional secondary treatment included
an intermediate pumping station, waste activated pumps, oxygen activated sludge
tanks, cryogenic facilities to produce oxygen, final clarifiers, final pumping station
with return activated sludge pumps, base load pumps, and a chlorine mixing
chamber.
• In 1993 there were upgrades to the preliminary treatment and sludge handling
facilities at the plant. Modifications to the preliminary treatment system included
replacement of the bar screens along with screenings conveyance equipment,
replacement of the aerated grit system with new grit removal, grit pumping and
concentrator equipment. The existing chlorine feed equipment was replaced. The
heat treatment system and vacuum filters were removed and replaced with
dewatering centrifuges.
• In 1994 a new dichlorination system and chlorine contact chamber, modifications
to the final clarifiers and modification to the oxygen supply system. The oxygen
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supply modifications included removal of the cryogenics system and the addition
of a new storage tank and feed components as part of a supply contact for oxygen.
• In 1996, improvements included modifications to the final pump station, hydraulic
improvements, and a new SCADA system. The modifications included
replacement of RAS pumps, removal of base load pumps, installation of two new
non -potable -water pumps and modifications to the electrical system.
• The improvements completed in 2014 involved modifications to nearly all the
buildings and processes at the treatment facility ultimately creating the Water &
Resource Recovery Center. Improvements included the conversion from sludge
incineration to anaerobic digestion with land application, conversion from
chlorination-dechlorination to ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, and implementation of
cogeneration using the digester gas.
DISCUSSION:
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) generally recommends that a facility
plan be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure that the facility remains compliant
with current regulations, incorporates technological advancements, and adapts to
changes in population growth and industrial activity, thereby maintaining its operational
efficiency and effectiveness in protecting public health and the environment. The last
facility plan was completed in May of 2008 with the improvements outlined therein
bringing about the conversion of the Dubuque Water Pollution Control Plant to the Water
& Resource Recovery Center that exists today.
The primary goal of a facility plan is to determine how the Water & Resource Recovery
Center (WRRC) will accommodate domestic growth, potential new industrial users, meet
impending nutrient reduction requirements, and have the flexibility to address unforeseen
future regulatory requirements such as PFAS.
The city of Dubuque has experienced significant growth since 2008. The FY25-29 five-
year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Budget includes $48.6 million in sanitary sewer
collection system improvements to accommodate growth in the Catfish Creek Sewershed
and another $3 million to accommodate development on Chaplain Schmitt Island and on
Kerper Boulevard. The City initiated a Sanitary Sewer Utility Asset Management Program
(SSAMP) to provide an understanding of how aging infrastructure is performing and how
growth might impact the system. Once complete, the SSAMP will allow for maximize
return on investments as to how all sewer utility dollars are spent in combination with
constrained capital and operating budgets. It will help the City prioritize sewer
improvements necessary in the short-, mid-, and long-term to ensure the collection
system continues to meet the needs of the community.
The treatment facility is approaching 70% of its maximum treatment capability in terms of
certain pollutant removal requirements. The development of an updated facility plan at
this time will allow for a complete look at both the collection system needs and the
treatment system needs of the sanitary sewer utility over the next ten to 20 years.
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
In addition to reviewing the effectiveness of current treatment processes, the analysis will
consider energy consumption and how improvements at the WRRC might reduce energy
costs, reduce its carbon footprint, help the City achieve its overall carbon footprint by 50%
by 2030. It will also review how best to handle inorganic waste at the WRRC. This includes
possible relocation of the WRRC decanting facility to the landfill which could be owned
and operated by the City on leased landfill property or owned and operated by the landfill.
The goal is to have that portion of the facility plan complete in time to consider
improvements as part of the FY26-30 CIP Budget process.
The schedule for the RFQ distribution and consultant recommendation is as follows:
RFQ Released to the Public June 21, 2024
Response Due Date July 12, 2024
Consultant Interviews July 29 — 31, 2024
Recommendation to the City Manager August 2, 2024
The RQF committee to review qualifications and make a recommendation is as follows:
• Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager (Engineering)
• William O'Brien, Water & Resource Recovery Center Plant Manager (WRRC)
• Shena Moon, Associate Planner (Planning Services)
• Dawn March, Purchasing and Safety Coordinator (Budget & Finance)
• Deron Muehring, Water & Resource Recovery Center Director (WRRC)
RECOMMENDATION:
I recommend releasing an RFQ for engineering services needed for the development of
a facility plan for the WRRC.
BUDGETIMPACT
The FY25 Budget includes a $315,000 appropriation for the WRRC Facility Management
Plan Update (Project 4381500016).
ACTION REQUESTED
I respectfully request approval to release an RFQ for engineering services needed for the
development of a facility plan for the WRRC.
Attach.
Cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Jennifer Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Dawn March, Purchasing and Safety Coordinator
Wally Wernimont, Planning Services Director
Shena Moon, Associate Planner
Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager
William O'Brien, WRRC Plant Manager
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork