HomeMy WebLinkAboutNB 2 WATER WELL DSGN 03-19-84- NEW BUSINESS
NO. 2
FRO#:
SUBJECT:
WILLIAM HUSTON, CITY MANAGER
BOB LEDENDECKER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS/CITY ENGINEER
WATER WELL DESIGN AND TEST HOLE PROJECT
That the
to:
RECOMMENDATION:
Tustin City Council, at their meeting of March 19, 1984, authorize staff
ae
Investigate the feasibility of entering into a joint effort with
Orange County Water District to construct and operate a nitrate
removal facility at the Main Street Water Plant.
Proceed with the well construction and test hole at a single location,
Columbus-Tustin parksite at this time, in lieu of the previously
approved two locations.
BACKGROUND:
In December, the City Council/Redevelopment Agency authorized staff to proceed
with the preparation of plans and specifications for two water well test holes at
proposed locations of Peppertree Parksite and Columbus Tustin Parksite. Boyle
Engineering has proceeded with this work and is approximately 60% complete.
During recent conversations with the Orange County Water District, the District
expressed an interest in participating in a program to resolve the high nitrate
concentration problem within the underground water basin. This memo will address
the results of staff's initial conversations with the Orange County Water
District.
DISCUSSION:
The District has had a long term concern with the high nitrate levels that appear
in varied locations throughout the Orange County underground water basin. The
exact cause of these nitrates is not known at this time, but it is suspected that
they are caused from commercial/agricultural fertilizers leaching into the basin
and from the past extensive and continuing use of septic tanks and cesspools. The
allowable level of nitrates per State Health Department standards is 45 p.p.m.
As the plans for the two test locations were being prepared, staff inquired to the
District as to the feasibility of any financial help that they may provide with
respect to the two test holes and water sampling. The District indicated that
this type of help would not be feasible, at this time, due to the lack of any such
type of project within their current budget. Any such proposal, if approved by
staff, would require Board approval which could take up to one to two years.
WATER WELL DESIGN AND TEST HOLE PROJECT
MARCH 12, 1984
PAGE 2
The District did, however, indicate an interest in developing a pilot program to
facilitate the removal of nitrates by either a "reverse osmosis" procedure or a
"de-ionization" process. These processes would involve constructing a portable
type facility at the 235 East Main Street site which would be utilized to treat
the water from existing City wells No. 2 and No. 3, which both produce high levels
of nitrates. This type of treatment, if successful, would eliminate the need for
a blending operation, as previously planned. Preliminary cost estimates indicate
a nitrate removal facility of this type might cost about $125,000.00 to construct
and about $30.00 per acre foot to operate. These costs would compare to
approximately $420,000.00 for construction of a new well, plus the installation of
a blending line facility. At this time, the District has not indicated as to what
the basis of cost sharing would be for the proposed project.
If this nitrate removal process is successful, it has a great potential to be
utilized at two other water well sites which are currently inoperable due to high
nitrate levels. These two sites are at the seventeenth Street site and at the
Newport Avenue well site.
Staff is suggesting the following:
a. That the City Water Service further investigate the feasibility of
entering into a joint effort with the District to construct a nitrate
removal, facility at the Main Street Plant and if feasible, at reasonable
costs to the City, draft a cooperative agreement for execution by both
agencies.
b. Proceed with the well construction and test hole at the Columbus-Tustin
parksite location, at this time, in lieu of the previously approved two
locations.
In the event it is desired to proceed with both locations, it will be necessary to
appropriate additional funding for the consultant's contract..Their original
proposal letter dated August 5, 1983 only covered the design services for one
well, in lieu of two. This matter will be returned to the Council for future
action depending upon the decision to participate in the nitrate removal program
with the Orange County Water District.
d~ndecker
Director of Public Works/City Engineer
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