DATE: June 27, 2017
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
Mark Hilty, Assistant City Administrator - Public Works
Michelle Hatcher, Water Management Director
SUBJECT:
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Discussion Regarding Thermal Hydrolysis Alternatives Analysis
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Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) concerning the evaluation and analysis of the thermal hydrolysis pretreatment systems and manufacturers for the upgrades to the Water Reclamation Facility (WRF).
Background
In 2015, the BOMA, based on the review/recommendation of the City’s consultant and staff team, preselected a thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP) manufacturer. One of the critical elements for the City’s selected biosolids process was that it produces a Class A Exceptional Quality (EQ) product. The Class A EQ product can be used for various beneficial uses such as a soil supplement for agriculture. The THP system was competitively pre-selected prior to completing the design of the biosolids treatment system to allow for the final plans to include the appropriate design elements for the biosolids treatment train. On February 24, 2015, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) approved Resolution 2015-04, approving the Letter of Intent with Cambi, Inc. (COF Contract 2015-0032) to provide the THP system.
Late in 2016, the City was approached by the Chestnut Bend Homeowners Association (CBHOA) with a request to consider an alternative biosolids treatment process by the manufacturer Lystek International Incorporated (Lystek). The proposed Lystek treatment process was presented at a public meeting on October 28, 2016, BOMA agreed to consider the Lystek process as an alternative to the preselected Cambi process for a pretreatment step for anaerobic digestion. City staff and consultants have started these analyses, summarized in the attached documents. However, further review and evaluation will require a significant amount of investment in time and resources by the City bejond which the Board has given the City Administrator the authority to approve. As a result, BOMA direction is sought in terms conducting further review of the Lystek or other alternatives.
Financial Impact
At this time, the full financial comparison between the Lystek and Cambi systems has not been established and would require approximately $100,000 to complete this analyses. Based on the analyses performed to date, there is no indication that the Lystek system can be deployed at a substantially reduced cost while maintaining the intent of the design established through the Integrated Water Resources Plan and subsequent planning and design efforts.
Recommendation
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Staff recommends guidance from BOMA regarding whether the City continue with a full evaluation of the Lystek process based upon the initial observations and analysis or to move forward with the current design and bidding and construction of the Water Reclamation Facility upgrades.