Item 4C~.
AGENDA ITEM #4C
JANUARY 23, 2006
CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH
CITY COMMISSION MEETING
STAFF REPORT
AGENDA ITEM: Polymer for Wastewater Treatment Plants
Bid No. 0506-2
SUBMITTED BY: Donna Kaluzniak, Utility Directo
DATE: January 13, 2006
BACKGROUND: Polymers are chemicals used in wastewater treatment plants to neutralize
electrical charges on sludge particles. This helps the solids clump together and dewater before
'~ disposal at the landfill. Each polymer manufacturer develops and markets several proprietary
formulas.
~. Wastewater treatment plants are biological systems that have varied reactions to these polymers.
A polymer incompatible with the treatment plant's microorganisms can upset the process,
,~ creating additional costs for pumping and hauling biosolids. An upset process also increases the
risk of violating our regulatory permit conditions. Adverse reactions may take several months to
appear and several months to correct once the polymer is discontinued.
For a number of years, the City had good dewatering results with no adverse plant effects using a
polymer from Leachem Industries. However, in 2002, staff switched to a different polymer that
beat the cost of Leachem during a bid.
Unfortunately, after using the low-bid polymer for several months, the plant microorganisms
began showing an adverse reaction that resulted in $16,000 of additional operational costs. Staff
requested to use the Leachem polymer as a sole source product on December 9, 2002, which the
Commission approved.
Several years have passed since then, so staff decided to advertise bids for polymer to ensure the
cost of Leachem's polymer was not out of line. Four bids were received on January 4, 2005. All
°"" bidders supplied a sample of their chosen polymer for cone-time field test to ensure dewatering.
Bids were submitted as a cost per pound of polymer. Because some brands required more
~""' polymer to properly dewater the biosolids than others, calculations were completed in the bid
analysis to determine tape cost per 1000 hallons treated. Results were as follows:
Manufacturer: Ciba Specialty Degussa- Fort Bend Leachem
Chemicals Stockhausen Services Industries
Cost/1000 $0.313 $0.412 $0.429 0.348
allons treated
AGENDA ITEM #4C
JANUARY 23, 2006
The bids show that Leachem Industries' price is competitive with other products, as the cost is
,~, the second lowest per 1000 gallons treated. The annual cost difference between Leachem and the
lowest cost polymer from Ciba Specialty Chemicals is approximately $2500.
~. Although Ciba Specialty Chemicals has the lower cost, the risk of plant upset and the resulting
cost outweighs the $2500 savings. As shown in 2002, additional costs for a biological upset can
escalate to quickly exceed the difference in polymer price. Therefore, staff recommends
** awarding the contract to Leachem Industries.
BUDGET: A total of $23,000 was budgeted for polymer in the Sewer Fund under account
number 410-5508-535-5200.
RECOMMENDATION: Award the Annual Contract for Polymer to Leachem Industries, Inc.
at the bid price of $1.36/pound.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. Bid Analysis Form
2. Bid Tabulation Form
3. Cost Estimate for Use of Incompatible Polymer at WWTP#1
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
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