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Label:
Emergency ordinance
*Authorize emergency construction contracts with Orr Inc., for an estimated amount of $1,885,610 for drinking water well repairs and upgrades
Passed
The City of Portland ordains:
Section 1. The Council finds:
- Production Wells 6, 16, 13, and 19 are part of the Columbia South Shore Well Field (the City of Portland’s groundwater system), which includes 26 wells of widely varying production capabilities. Portland Water Bureau relies on the groundwater system as a secondary supply source to augment the Bull Run supply as needed, and as a primary supply source during periods when the Bull Run supply is not available.
- Production Well 6 failed in late August 2023 during the beginning of a groundwater augmentation run. Production Well 16’s submersible pump motor has had declining performance over the last two years as measured by leaking electrical current, thus failure is eminent. Production Wells 13 and 19 are the City’s largest and most critical wells and represent approximately 20 million gallons per day, or 22% of groundwater capacity. Wells 13 and 19 recently failed and require a spare pump and motor be procured to ensure the groundwater system can run at full capacity during future water supply emergencies with the Bull Run system.
- Due to the recent Camp Creek Fire in the Bull Run Watershed that began in August 2023, there is increased potential for a turbidity event in the watershed over the next few years until vegetation in the burn area is reestablished, especially this upcoming fall and winter.
- Portland Water Bureau does not have the equipment nor the required State of Oregon Well Constructor’s License to remove the column pipes, pumps, and motors and reinstall factory repairs or replacements.
- Portland Water Bureau requires three emergency contracts with Orr Inc., under the auspices of City of Portland Emergency Declaration ED-2023-06 (attached as Exhibit A) , for construction work to replace a failed pump and motor in both Production Wells 6 (Contract Number 30008608) and 16 (Contract Number 30008614) and to purchase a spare pump and motor for use in either Production Wells 13 or 19 (Contract 30008615).
- The Portland Water Bureau Director and Chief Procurement Officer have approved the declared emergency work to begin and received quotes from Orr Inc. for the completion of the work.
- Portland Water Bureau’s Project Manager negotiated with Orr Inc. for construction services in the amount of $599,362 for the Production Well 6 Project, $647,514 for the Production Well 16 Repair Project, and $638,734 for the Production Wells 13 and 19 Spare Pump and Motor Project (refer to attached Exhibit B, memorandums approving the emergency work to begin).
- Funding for this emergency work will be made available as part of the FY 2023–24 Spring Budget Monitoring Process by replanning existing groundwater system improvement projects or contingency and will be requested for FY 2024–25.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:
- That the Chief Procurement Officer is authorized to execute on behalf of the City emergency contracts under the auspices of City of Portland Emergency Declaration ED-2023-06 with Orr Inc. for an estimated combined amount of $1,885,610 for the replacement of failed pumps and motors in drinking water Production Wells 6 and 16 and the purchase of a spare pump and motor for use in either Production Well 13 or Production Well 19.
- The Mayor and Auditor are hereby authorized to draw and deliver checks chargeable to the Water Fund when demand is presented and approved by the proper authorities.
Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because if the wells are not operational, there is a risk of not being able to meet demands if there is a turbidity or other event that takes the Bull Run supply out of service. This legislation is supported by Emergency Declaration ED-2023-06-3, due to the Camp Creek Fire; therefore this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council
Official record (Efiles)
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved
in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of proposed legislation and background information
The Portland Water Bureau relies on the Columbia South Shore Well Field (the City of Portland’s groundwater system) as a secondary supply source to augment the Bull Run supply as needed and as a primary supply source during periods when the Bull Run supply is not available. Production Wells 6, 16, 13, and 19 are part of the groundwater system, which includes 26 wells of widely varying production capabilities.
The groundwater system can provide 90 million gallons of water per day for short periods and approximately 70 million gallons per day sustained over several months. It is critical that the full capacity of the groundwater system is available from October through April. During this time of year, the Bull Run reservoirs can experience high turbidity events that require the Portland Water Bureau to rely exclusively on groundwater. These events typically last between 10 and 30 days.
The groundwater system’s resilience is key to the health of our region in coming decades, especially as the effects of climate change increase the likelihood of extreme natural events and more hot, dry summers. Our investments in the present help ensure that we can continue to deliver consistent, high-quality water for generations to come.
Due to the recent Camp Creek Fire in the Bull Run Watershed, there is increased potential for a turbidity event in the watershed over the next few years until vegetation in the burn area is reestablished, especially this upcoming fall and winter. The groundwater system is critical to maintaining compliance with the bilateral agreement with Oregon Health Authority during the interim period until the Bull Run Treatment projects are online.
Production Well 6 failed in late August 2023 during the beginning of a groundwater augmentation run. Production Well 16’s submersible pump motor has had declining performance over the last two years as measured by leaking electrical current, thus failure is eminent. Production Wells 13 and 19 have recently had unexpected failures, which means the Portland Water Bureau must acquire a spare pump and motor as soon as possible to ensure the groundwater system can run at full capacity during future water supply emergencies with the Bull Run system.
This legislation will authorize the Chief Procurement Officer to execute on behalf of the City emergency contracts under the auspices of City of Portland Emergency Declaration ED-2023-06 with Orr Inc. for emergency work needed for Production Wells 6, 16, 13, and 19.
Financial and budgetary impacts
Portland Water Bureau has negotiated three separate contracts with Orr Inc., totaling $1,885,610. This includes: (1) $599,362 for the replacement of a failed pump and motor for Production Well 6; (2) $647,514 for the replacement of a failed pump and motor for Production Well 16; and (3) $638,734 for the purchase and installation (if directed) of a spare pump and motor for use in either Production Well 13 or 19.
Funding for this work will be made available as part of the FY 2023–24 Spring Budget Monitoring Process by replanning existing groundwater system improvement projects or contingency and will be requested for FY 2024–25. The action will not result in a change to the forecast water rates. The confidence level is high. The proposed legislation will not create, eliminate, or reclassify any positions now or in the future.
Community impacts and community involvement
All work on Production Wells 6, 16, 13, and 19 will be performed entirely in the well field and will have no impact on residential neighborhoods. As a result, this action requires no community outreach or public information services. However, this work is vital to our community’s well-being.
A fully operational groundwater system brings substantial benefits to the communities served by the Portland Water Bureau. The groundwater system is key to maintaining the resilience of the water system, in that our water system can withstand unforeseen events without an interruption to water service, which is critical to protecting public health. A fully functional groundwater system will let us endure future turbidity events in the Bull Run without issuing system-wide boil water notices.
100% renewable goal
The projects have no impact on the City’s 100% renewable goal.
Financial and budget analysis
Analysis provided by City Budget Office
This ordinance represents three contracts with Orr Inc for costs unanticipated in the current FY related to drinking water well repairs and upgrades. There have been three separate incidents this FY that have necessitated these emergency repairs. The bureau plans to make CY adjustments in the Spring BMP to fund this request, either by reprioritizing groundwater projects in their CIP or by drawing on contingency to fund these contracts.