REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Approve Payments to Shape, Inc., PAC Machine Company, and TrueBlue Automation Services for Lick Mill Storm Pump Station Emergency Pump Repairs and Rental Services, Related Budget Amendments, and Accept this Post-Emergency Report
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The Department of Public Works (DPW) and Water and Sewer Utility Department (WSUD) operate and maintain 21 storm drain pump stations (SDPS) located mainly in the northern portion of the City. The SDPS are critical infrastructure for providing flood protection by moving water more efficiently than gravity alone and enabling water to be moved from lower to higher levels. Each pump station has one or more pumps installed in a wet well that are engineered to discharge stormwater collected through a series of catch basin inlets and underground storm drain pipelines to a water body.
The Lick Mill SDPS located at 449 Montague Expressway collects stormwater from 620 acres of land area and drains into the Guadalupe River. It has the capacity to move 105,500 gallons per minute (gpm) of storm water into the Guadalupe River through a series of 48-inch reinforced concrete pipes with three submersible pumps.
DISCUSSION
Overview of the Emergency Event
During a storm event on January 22, 2024 the WSUD received an emergency alert for a high-water level alarm in the wet well at Lick Mill SDPS. After some investigation it was discovered that the contractor replacing the emergency generator at the site disconnected electrical components to the pump controls which resulted in the pumps not starting and minor flooding on Lick Mill Boulevard. During this event only two of the three pumps were in service, Pump 1 was previously not working and had been removed for repairs. The electrical contractor responded and reconnected Pumps 2 and 3, but when the pumps were turned on they ran in reverse direction because the...
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