July 25, 2012 - Toho Water Authority

CATEGORY:
Attachment(s):
Consent
Notice of Intent to Sole Source
SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE OF PORTABLE DEWATERING EQUIPMENT
Explanation: The Toho Water Authority (TWA) currently hauls liquid biosolids from all
wastewater facilities (excluding Cypress West WRF) to the solids handling facility at the South
Bermuda Water Reclamation Facility (WRF) for dewatering. TWA has a contract with Florida
N-Viro to haul the dewatered biosolids for further treatment and beneficial use. The Camelot
facility biosolids are discharged to the South Bermuda WRF via a force main and Cypress
West WRF biosolids are treated to Class B biosolids and then transported for land application
in Polk County.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) requires the Cypress West WRF
to cease land application upon renewal of the FDEP Permit which is estimated to take effect
the fall of 2013. This permit requirement will significantly impact the South Bermuda WRF and
increase the risk of maintaining a reliable dewatering system. Staff recognized this impact and
proceeded with pilot testing for a cost effective alternative to hauling the additional biosolids to
the South Bermuda WRF.
Staff commissioned a third party consultant to evaluate the feasibility and costs of using
portable biosolids dewatering boxes at the Walnut Street WRF. The consultant performed a
cost comparative study between the current method of hauling liquid biosolids and dewatering
boxes. The study identified the dewatering box is a better alternative for biosolids handling with
a payback period of less than two (2) years.
Staff believed the dewatering boxes and polymer feed systems evaluated to be sole source.
However, to ensure there were no other similar equipment alternatives, TWA advertised a
“NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE” on May 21, 2012, and sent the specifications to
eight (8) suppliers. Toho did not receive a response to the advertisement or the suppliers,
indicating the dewatering boxes can be considered sole source.
TWA currently hauls approximately 522 loads (5,000 gallons/load) of biosolids from Walnut
Street WRF to the South Bermuda WRF at $133.27/load. The annual biosolids hauling cost
from Walnut Street WRF to South Bermuda is $69,566.
The dewatering box would reduce the hauling to approximately 70 loads per year at a cost of
$28,000. The estimated annual savings using the dewatering box at Walnut Street is
approximately $41,566.
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