HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.b. Summit Envirosolutions ProposalC:\Users\eef\Desktop\20160815 UC Summit Proposal.docx
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Utility Commission Meeting: August 15, 2016
AGENDA ITEM: Summit Envirosolutions - Hydrogeologic
Services and Aquifer Visualization
AGENDA SECTION:
New Business
PREPARED BY: John Morast, Interim Public Works
Director AGENDA NO. 6b
ATTACHMENTS: March 14, 2016 Summit Proposal APPROVED BY: JM
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Choices provided in Summary section
ISSUE
Summit Envirosolutions has been working with city staff on a number of well-related items. They are
currently under contract to instrument four observation wells and provide elevation data for those four
wells in an accessible, real-time manner. In addition to the observation well monitoring, Summit has
submitted a proposal to inventory the production wells and provide ongoing data analysis to evaluate the
pumping operations, effectiveness and ground water effects of our water production.
BACKGROUND
Summit Envirosolutions has been working with city staff on a number of well-related items. They are
currently under contract to instrument four observation wells and provide elevation data for those four
wells in an accessible, real-time manner. We are nearing completion on this project; instrumentation will
be installed in the new observation well in Chippendale Park as soon as the contractor is completed with
the conversion. Staff will evaluate the time- and cost-effectiveness of this project in the coming months.
In March 2016, Summit submitted a second proposal for Hydrogeological and Aquifer Visualization
services. The proposal includes three tasks:
Task 1 – Field review and well house inventory
Task 2 – Well evaluations and efficiency calculations
Task 3 – Ongoing data analysis and reporting
Taks 3 could potentially be handled under the Technical Services section of the Consulting Pool. Summit
Envirosolutions was not selected in the consulting pool, so moving forward with that task may require
another method of consultant selection.
The proposed cost to perform Tasks 1 and 2 is $7,238. The total costs for Task 3 (ongoing data analysis
and reporting) is unknown at this time, as are other costs related to updating the instrumentation at some
or all of the wells, potential modifications needed to install instruments, or other additional work that
might be needed for full implementation.
2
This proposed project, or similar projects, could help in identifying potential inefficiencies of the
municipal water system and localized effects on our ground water supply. It can also provide additional
groundwater use and drawdown information useful in discussions with the Met Council and other
environmental agencies. Working with surrounding cities and water suppliers with similar systems could
have great benefit in modeling drawdown effects of the aquifer.
SUMMARY
This proposal has been discussed previously between staff and Council members, but with no clear
consensus on if, when, or how to move forward. Staff is requesting further input from the Utility
Commission, with the following options provided for consideration:
1. Have a full presentation by Summit Envirosolutions at a future Utility Commission meeting to
provide more in-depth information
2. Recommend moving forward with the Summit proposal in 2016 (a funding source will need to be
determined)
3. Recommend moving forward with Summit proposal in 2017 (funding for Tasks 1 and 2 is included
in 2017 draft budget)
4. Recommend further study into overall costs and benefits to the City and develop a return on
investment summary
5. Recommend no further action on this item
6. Other