PUBLIC UTILITIES ADVISORY BOARD AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Receive the 2025 Operations Summary
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DEPARTMENT: Water Utilities
SUBMITTED BY: Darrell Blenniss, Director Water Utilities
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
The Water Utilities Department operates through three primary business groups, each essential to maintaining the City’s critical infrastructure and public health standards:
1. Water Supply, Distribution, and Collection (WSDC)
2. Civil Environmental Engineering and Construction Management (CEECM)
3. Springbrook Water Reclamation Center (SWRC)
DISCUSSION:
In 2025, the Department successfully balanced a historic volume of capital investment with rigorous operational maintenance and regulatory compliance. Despite external pressures regarding supply chains and contractor performance, the Department achieved its primary service goals.
A. Capital Improvement Projects (CIP) & Infrastructure
The year was defined by the transition of the SWRC South Plant Expansion from design to active construction ($59.3M), marking a significant investment in wastewater treatment capacity.
• Completed Projects: The Barclay Manor Force Main replacement, Northwest Wastewater Lift Station Forcemain, and the 2025 Hydrant Painting program were successfully finalized. The 2025 Lead Service Line Replacement program was also completed by late summer.
• Active Construction: Work is underway on several major initiatives at the reclamation center, including the SWRC Biosolids Holding Tank, the South Plant Grit and RAS improvements, and the South Plant Improvements project.
• Challenges: Supply chain volatility and contractor issues impacted the timelines for the Central Elevated Tank, West Waterworks, and the Northwest Pump Station. Staff is actively managing these schedule slippages with revised completion targets set for mid-2026.
B. Operations & Maintenance Statistics
Operational efficiency remained high across the distribution and collection systems, supported by significant strategic planning efforts:
• WSDC: Crews cleaned over 1.8 million linear feet of sanitary sewer and replaced 2,800 water meters. Strategically, the division completed the comprehensive 10-Year Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Plan. The SCADA Historian system saw a massive expansion, scaling from 2,500 to over 29,000 data points.
• CEECM: Beyond capital projects, the division supported a high volume of private development, including data centers (Karis) and commercial expansions. Staff managed a peak volume of 3,713 JULIE locate tickets in May alone.
• SWRC: The plant processed and hauled a cumulative total of 10,652 cubic yards of biosolids. Staff successfully resolved persistent vibration issues in the South Plant Forcemain pumps and completed the installation of a second electrical feed to ensure power redundancy.
C. Regulatory Compliance & Safety
The Department maintained a strong standing with state and federal regulatory bodies:
• Wastewater: Springbrook WRC achieved zero NPDES permit violations for the calendar year. The draft NPDES permit was received in December and is currently under review by the watershed workgroup negotiation team.
• Drinking Water: While Lead and Copper monitoring triggered a "Find-and-Fix" requirement due to an upward trend in sampling results (peaking at 7.7 ppb), the Department has obtained the necessary Special Exemption Permit and is proactively increasing sampling protocols.
• Security: In coordination with CISA, the Department conducted multiple tabletop exercises and physical security upgrades to harden infrastructure against cybersecurity threats.
D. Personnel & Financial Administration
The Divisions managed robust procurement schedules, including the emergency procurement of critical valve infrastructure and the execution of major awards for plant expansion. Staffing saw significant movement, with successful recruitment for engineering and technical specialist roles, though operations were impacted by medical leaves and the unfortunate passing of a staff member in the SWRC division.