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Home My WebLink About2.b. Summit Envirosolutions - Hydrogeologic Services and Aquifer Visualization ProposalI:\City Clerk\Agenda Items\Approved Items\2.b. Summit Envirosolutions - Hydrogeologic Services and Aquifer Visualization - Executive Summary.docx EXECUTIVE SUMMARY City Council Work Session: September 12, 2016 AGENDA ITEM: Summit Envirosolutions - Hydrogeologic Services and Aquifer Visualization AGENDA SECTION: Discussion PREPARED BY: John Morast, Interim Public Works Director AGENDA NO. 2.b. ATTACHMENTS: Presentation March 14, 2016 Summit Proposal APPROVED BY: ddj RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discussion and Direction 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 Task 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. I:\City Clerk\Agenda Items\Approved Items\2.b. Summit Envirosolutions - Hydrogeologic Services and Aquifer Visualization - Executive Summary.docx 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. There may be a potential energy cost saving in the operation of the wells by operating them more strategically. 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 A presentation was made at the August 14, 2016 Utility Commission, along with discussion and no resolution on a direction to proceed. It was requested to bring forward to the City Council for further discussion and direction on how to proceed. SUMMARY This proposal has been discussed previously between staff, Council members and the Utility Commission, but with no clear consensus on if, when, or how to move forward. Staff is requesting further input and direction from the Council 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 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 analysis based on potential energy savings.. 5. Recommend no further action on this item 6. Other 1 SUMMIT ENVIROSOLUTIONS, INC. AQUIFER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT, INC. TECHNOLOGIES FOR BUILDING “SMART” WELLFIELDS BACKGROUND •We are comprised of geologists, hydrogeologists, engineers, chemists, biologists, archaeologists, and architectural historians •In 1996, NASA chose Summit to participate in their Earth Observation Commercial Application Program (EOCAP) to visualize groundwater in real time •We have been collecting telemetric data from across the United States for over 20 years •We have developed hardware and software solutions for “Smart Wellfields” using groundwater analytics 2 Technologies Involved Perfect Storm of Convergence Hardware •Sensors for water level and water quality •Solar Powered Telemetry •Digital Flow meters •Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) Software •“Internet of Things” – M2M and cloud applications •Graphical User Interface (GUI) to databases •Groundwater data analytics and visualization packages 3 The Verizon M2M cellular data network is enabling cost effective data collection 4 What is a Smart Wellfield? A network of wells where flow rate and water level information are continually analyzed to automatically turn pumps up and down (and on and off) to better manage an aquifer resource: •Operate at optimal pumping rates to reduce energy costs, reduce aquifer depletion, manage contaminant plumes, reduce water treatment costs, etc. •Identify when wells require maintenance and wells that interfere with each other •Calculate aquifer parameters and delineate wellhead protection areas •Enable contingency planning based on real data Process Schematic 6 Total Drawdown 7 Data Can Be Complicated! 8 Unless it is Visualized 9 Current Conditions: 10 Benefits of Smart Wellfields •Reduce pumping/energy costs •Identify well problems and issues – when should I redevelop the well? •Site new wells •Update wellhead protection plans 11 Benefits (continued) •Regional aquifer management •Optimize pumping to achieve aquifer resource management objectives •Provide defensible data •THEY “LEARN” OVER TIME 12 The Near Future - Technology •“Super Sensors” – weather, physical, and chemical sensors that are smaller, cheaper, low power, wireless •Smart surface water and groundwater models and neural networks incorporated into AQUILYTICS 13 The Future – Regional Aquifer Resource Management •Regional groundwater level visualization for cause/effect analysis •Regional/site specific water quality in real and continuous time •Inter-governmental data sets for mutual benefit •Streamlined permitting and regulatory compliance 14 Point of Contact John Dustman jdustman@summite.com (612) 750-4024 www.summite.com 15