Detroit Water Board Approves Sewer Repair Contracts to Inland Waters, Rejecting Lakeshore Engineering Protest

On December 16, 2009, the Board of Water Commissioners narrowly approved two sewer repair contracts, worth upwards of $80 million, to Inland Waters Pollution Control, Inc. 

Lakeshore Engineering, the second bidder, protested the award to Inland Waters. Anthony Adams, former Deputy Mayor and Interim Director of DWSD, spoke on behalf of Lakeshore Engineering during the public comment session. 

Despite concerns about awarding both contracts to one contractor, the Board later approved  the award of both contracts (DWS-876 and DWS-877) to Inland Waters. The votes were 6-1 and 4-3 respectively. Each contract was approved at a cost not-to-exceed of $40 million.  Both contracts must still be approved by the Detroit City Council.

These two contracts replace earlier sewer repair contracts that had been held by Inland Waters and Lakeshore Engineering.  

DWSD Design and Construction Contracts, List of Q2 (2009) Projects

DWSD has updated its list of Proposed Construction and Consultant Contracts for Q2 2009 here. Five of the projects listed are carryovers from DWSD's Q1 2009 List; DWSD has included six new projects, all of which are in the $5 million range.

The construction projects planned include:

• Electric Avenue Reservoir Construction and Booster Pump Station Rehabilitation (DWS-873) (R);
  
• Chemical Treatment System Modifications at the Northeast, Springwells, Lake Huron and Southwest Water Treatment Plants (DWS-867) (R);
• East Side City of Detroit Sewer Repairs Contract for Inspection of In-Place Rehabilitation of Existing Circular and Non-Circular Sewers (DWS-876) (D/B) (New);
• West Side City of Detroit Sewer Repairs Contract for Inspection of In-Place Rehabilitation of Existing Circular and Non-Circular Sewers (DWS-877) (D/B) (New);
• Lake Huron Water Treatment Plant Clearwell No. 1 Baffle Walls (LH-396) (New);
• Replacement of Existing INFI 90 Bailey Controls at Fenkell/Puritan and Hubbell/ Southfield CSO Basins (PC-761) (New);
• Complex I and II Incinerator Improvements (D/B) (PC-774) (New);
  
• Springwell Water Treatment Plant Discharge Header Pipe System Replacement (D/B) (SP-567) (R);
  
• Southwest Water Treatment Plant Sludge Treatment and Waste Washwater Treatment Facilities (SW-548) (R);
  
• Water System Improvements; Various Streets Throughout the City of Detroit (WS-648A) (New); and
  
• Parallel 42-Inch Water Main in 24 Mile Road, from Foss Road to Fairchild Road (WS-674) (R).