TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF AUGUST 12, 2010
COMMITTEE ON MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Mr. Richard Lanyon, Executive Director
Title
Declaration of an emergency for repair of the West Side Sludge Line and authority to ratify the execution of Contract 10-700-01, Kenny Construction Company, in accordance with Section 11.5 of the Purchasing Act to protect public health and safety, estimated cost is not to exceed $100,000.00, Account 901-30000-667220 (Req. 1309155) (As Revised)
Body
Dear Sir:
On Saturday, July 10, 2010, at approximately 1:00 pm, the West Side Sludge Line experienced a sudden increase in flow and a simultaneous pressure drop indicative of a break in the pipe. Pumping to the Stickney WRP was immediately halted and a search for the break commenced.
At approximately 2:30pm, the break was located at the intersection of Devon and Kimball Avenues, where sludge was flowing up from the broken 16" ductile iron pipe through breaks in the pavement. A valve was then opened in order to relieve the residual pressure in the sludge line and to drain the sludge line to TARP. By 3:00 pm, all flow in the pipe had ceased.
Concurrent to the above, the City of Chicago dispatched a vac-truck in response to calls of a possible water main break. The City's truck and crews assisted the District in cleanup of the site until approximately 1:30 am Sunday morning. Final cleanup utilizing the District's vac-truck contractor was finished by 5:30 pm Sunday.
On Monday, July 12, 2010, the IEPA was notified of the incident. Since no discharge to a waterway occurred, the IEPA does not require a written documentation of the incident.
The North Side WRP cannot sustain normal operations without the use of this sludge line.
Immediate repair of the sludge line was needed to prevent any further sludge spills or discharges. In response, on July 14, 2010, the Board of Commissioners authorized the Executive Director to proceed with emergency repairs to the sludge line in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00. An emergency work agreement with Kenny was executed and repairs commenced.
In accordance with Section 11.5 of the Purchasing Act, it is requested that the Board of Commissioners declare an emergency to repair the West Side Sludge Line in order to protect the public health and safety, and to ratify the execution of the emergency work agreement with Kenny in an amount not to exceed $100,000.00, Contract 10-700-01.
Funds are available in Account 901-30000-667220 (Req. No. 1309155).
The emergency has since been resolved. It is also requested that the Board fix the date on which the emergency is to terminate as August 12, 2010. A full report of the resolution of the emergency will be presented to the Board at a forthcoming regular Board Meeting.
Requested, Manju P. Sharma, Acting Director of Maintenance and Operations, MPS:SO’C:MAG:JK
Respectfully Submitted, Frank Avila, Chairman Committee on Maintenance and Operations
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for August 12, 2010