McCulloch Updates Status of Oakland-Macomb Interceptor Project

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner, John McCulloch, recently provided the following update on the status of the Oakland-Macomb Interceptor project:

Construction of the first phase of the Oakland-Macomb Interceptor Drain (OMI) Rehabilitation Project, which began in February of 2010, is now complete. The first phase, also known as Segment 1, consisted of two construction contracts, both of which were completed by Ric-Man Construction, Inc. These two contracts included the construction of five new permanent flow control / access structures and modifications to an existing flow control structure. Four of the five new structures include a very large steel stop gate. One of the structures includes a temporary pump station. These new facilities, operated in cooperation with Macomb County’s Clintondale Pump Station and Detroit’s Northeast Pump Station, will provide a means of controlling flow in the OMI system by using the upstream pipes for storage and temporarily backing up flow. The flow control plan will utilize alternating periods of storage and release to provide working time downstream to conduct rehabilitation work in subsequent phases of the project.

Design for the second phase of the project has been completed and plans and specifications have been issued for bids. Bids will be received on October 25, 2011. Construction is expected to begin by January of 2012. Rehabilitation of the pipe in the lower half of the OMI system will begin with this phase, utilizing the flow control made possible by the facilities constructed in the first phase. Work will include cementitious grouting of voids outside the interceptor, chemical grouting of leaks and localized repair of the pipe wall. In addition, modifications will be made to the Northeast Pump Station including the installation of a new 1,250 horsepower variable frequency drive pump. Construction costs are estimated at $20.2 million. This phase of the work is scheduled to take approximately two years.

As construction on the second phase of the project gets started, design efforts will begin on the third phase. The third phase has two major components: 1) installation of a permanent liner in sections of the interceptor where hydrogen sulfide has affected the long-term integrity of the pipe, and 2) rehabilitation of a restricted section of the interceptor that was previously repaired but is again in need of attention. Various rehabilitation methods are being evaluated to determine the type of lining to be used. Slip lining and spiral wound lining are the two methods being given the most consideration at this time. The rehabilitation of the restricted section of pipe likely will include construction of a new parallel sewer. Construction of phase three is expected to overlap with phase two and is expected to begin in 2013.

For more information about the Oakland-Macomb Interceptor project, click here, here, and here. 

For more about DWSD Update, click here.

Inland Waters Submits Low Bid on OMID Contract 3 Re-Bid

Earlier today, Inland Waters Pollution Control submitted the low bid on the Oakland Macomb Interceptor Drain (OMID) Contract 3, Re-Bid.

1. Inland Waters - - - - - - - - $17,965,840
2. Lanzo Lining Services  - - - $18,347,000
3. Jay Dee Contractors  - - -  $21,556,900

As we noted here, bids for Contract 3 were originally received on July 19, 2011, but thrown out because they reportedly exceeded the Engineer's Estimate.  Macomb County officials denied their decision was motivated by the lawsuit they had filed against Inland Waters and 39 other contractors on July 18, 2011.  When the bids were opened this morning, the Engineer's Estimate was reported to be $20,195,000.

For more about DWSD Update, click here.

PC-787, Lakeshore Engineering Submits Low Bid on Belt Filter Press Project

Earlier today, Lakeshore Engineering submitted the low bid on the project known as DWSD Contract PC-787, "WWTP Upper Level Belt Filter Presses Rehabilitation."

1. Lakeshore Engineering - - $28,960,000

2. Weiss Construction - - - - $30,216,000*

3. Walbridge Aldinger - - - - $30,525,000

4. Walsh Construction - - - - $30,975,000

5. Tooles Contracting - - - - $32,397,000

As we noted here, Contract PC-787 involves the replacement of 22 belt filter presses in Complex I and Upper Level Complex II at the Detroit WWTP.

*Update (2/22):  Weiss Construction was awarded the contract for this job on February 12, 2012 (here).

For more about DWSD Update, click here.

Detroit Water Board Fills Financial, Technical Advisory Staff Positions

At a Special Meeting on October 6, 2011, the Detroit Board of Water Commissioners selected Butler Benton and Douglas Buchholz, P.E. to advise the Board on financial and technical issues.

As we reported in August, staff will assist the Board in reviewing rate setting, capital projects and other financial and operational matters. Staff are hired by, and report directly to, the Board of Water Commissioners, not DWSD or the Mayor's Office.

Staff positions were created under the February 11, 2011 Order, and formalized under Article VII of the Board's Amended By-Laws. A third staff position, not yet filled, will advise the Board on legal matters.

Butler Benton

Butler Benton is the former Director, Department of Environment, for Wayne County.  He served with Wayne County for 15 years. Mr. Benton has a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and an MBA, both from Wayne State University.

Mr. Benton is a member of the Clean Water Steering Committee of the ESD Institute.

Douglas A. Buchholz, P.E. is Director of Operations for Oakland County Water Resources Commission (WRC). Mr. Buchholz has worked for Oakland County since 1974. He became Manager of Operations and Maintenance in 1998 and was promoted to Director of Operations in 2009.

Mr. Buchholz directs the overall operations and maintenance of the Oakland County WRC field and office staff for water supply, wastewater and storm water disposal, lake level control, permits and inspections and customer service and billings.

He also represents WRC and Oakland County cities, villages and townships on Detroit Water and Sewage Department (DWSD) committees and work groups as a:

• Co-chair of the DWSD Water Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)
• DWSD Sewer Steering Committee member

Background  

He is a 1970 graduate of General Motors Institute with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree. He earned a Master of Science: Civil Engineering degree from the University of Michigan in 1973. 

Mr. Buchholz is also a: 

• State of Michigan Registered Professional Engineer 
• State of Michigan Certified Wastewater Operator Classification: A, B, C or D 
• Member of American Water Works Association 
• Member of Michigan Water Environment Association

For more about DWSD Update, click here. 

Update (11/30): The Board of Water Commissioners today voted to approve the hiring of Jim Ridgway as Technical Advisor to the Board.  The Board reconsidered its earlier decision (reported above) concerning Doug Buchholz.

Mr. Ridgway has a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and a M.S. in Civil Engineering, both from the University of Michigan. In addition, Mr. Ridgway was an Assistant Director with DWSD for 5 years during the mid-1980s. Click here for his LinkedIn profile.

Board of Water Commissioners, Updated By-Laws Posted Online

By-laws for the Detroit Board of Water Commissioners have been posted on the DWSD website (here).

The by-laws were updated on July 27, 2011 to incorporate changes made by virtue of two federal court orders entered by Judge Sean Cox on February 11, 2011 and April 29, 2011. This is the first time that the by-laws have been made available online.

PC-784, Ric-Man Submits Low Bid on Sewer Meter Project

Last Tuesday, September 27, 2011, Ric-Man Construction submitted the low bid on the project known as DWSD Contract PC-784, "Sewer Meter Installation."

1. Ric-Man Construction  - - - $4,379,000
2. Weiss Construction - - - - - $5,084,000
3. Lakeshore Engineering - -   $5,192,119.60
4. Detroit Contracting - - - - $5,752,300

The Work for DWSD Contract No. PC-784, “Sewer Meter Installation Sites DT-S-1, DT-S-3, DT-S-4, DT-S-5, DT-S-8, DT-S-10, DT-S-13, OC-S-1 and WM-S-2”, includes, but is not limited to construction/rehabilitation of existing sewerage metering facilities. 

Update (5/31/12): This contract is being rebid as Contract PC-784a on June 19, 2012. If you have Dodge Reports, its Project No. 200400858901.