Title
General Contractor for Water Reclamation Facilities Dewatering Project (B)
Explanation
Water/Wastewater Systems operates two water reclamation facilities, the Kanapaha Water Reclamation Facility (KWRF) and the Main Street Water Reclamation Facility (MSWRF), which receive wastewater from customers throughout GRU’s service area. The water reclamation process produces biosolids which are currently treated through a Class B aerobic digestion process and beneficially reused as a fertilizer and soil additive at a local Whistling Pines Ranch (WPR) agricultural site through a long term agreement. This method has been used successfully for over 30 years, but due to recent regulatory changes, the process must be changed. On February 17th, 2011, the City Commission executed a settlement agreement and consent order with Alachua County Board of County Commissioners to cease application of Class B biosolids at the WPR site by February 21, 2016.
To comply with the settlement agreement and consent order dated February 22nd, 2011, GRU considered all viable alternatives for future reuse of biosolids. GRU will issue a request for proposals to select one or more interested parties to take and reuse GRU’s biosolids. In conjunction with this new process, GRU will need to construct biosolids dewatering facilities in order to reduce the water content of its biosolids.
To assist GRU with the project, a contract with CH2MHill, Inc. for engineering design services was approved by the City Commission on May 12, 2012. Through bench and pilot testing, GRU selected centrifuges as the equipment technology to produce 20% solids. Due to the long lead time for the centrifuges, GRU has purchased the equipment after approval by the City Commission on September 19, 2013. The engineer has designed a new dewatering building located at the KWRF to house the dewatering centrifuges, as well as designed improvements to supporting facilities for dewatering at both KWRF and MSWRF. These pro...
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