Title
Approval of Services Agreement No. AGR24-72 with Viking II, Inc. in the amount of $416,500, plus Applicable Gross Receipts Tax, for the Purpose of County Water Distribution Backflow Prevention (“BFP”) and Cross Connection Control (“CCC”) Program Services
Recommended Action
I move that the Board of Public Utilities recommend Services Agreement No. AGR24-72 with Viking II, Inc. in the amount of $416,500, plus applicable gross receipts tax, for the purpose of County Water Distribution Backflow Prevention (“BFP”) and Cross Connection Control (“CCC”) Program Services and forward to Council for approval.
Utilities Manager's Recommendation
The Utilities Manager recommends that the Board recommend AGR24-72 and forward to Council for approval.
Body
Having an adequate Back Flow Prevention - Cross Connection Control (BFP-CCC) Program is required and essential to every public water supply system. The Los Alamos County Department of Public Utilities Water Distribution system has confronted this difficult task over the past eight years by partnering with Viking II to inspect and catalog all the various protection devices installed in the water distribution system. Viking II also coordinates testing with the owners of the devices and recommends corrective action if they are not functioning properly and need service or replacement.
The DPU GWS team coordinates inspections, testing, and corrective action on installed BFP-CCC devices in partnership with Viking II to comply with the existing Rules and Regulations - Water Rule W-6 for “Back Flow Prevention and Cross Connection Control”. The program has been brought up to industry standards by being more consistent with current best industry practices and completing the following actions:
- Complete a County wide survey-investigation-inspection to ensure that the DPU is aware of all Utility water supply system customers who meet the requirements for having a functioning BFP device.
- Ensure Water Rule W-6 meets current regulations and requirements and provides for any fee implementation and enforcement actions required determined as necessary and appropriate.
- Develop a digital catalog of the DPU BFP-CCC Program data: customers with required BFP devices; certified test and/or repair persons; annual inspection reports; BFP device repair reports; BFP test equipment calibration reports; other relevant BFP-CCC information.
- Develop a system to certify and track approved BFP test persons and test equipment.
- Provide a robust and consistent annual contact and BFP device inspection submittal program.
- Provide for a County-wide inspection sweep every ten years to ensure all Utility water supply system customers are fully compliant and the system is fully protected.
BFP-CCC Program Data
- Number of Private Customers Requiring BFP Devices = 340
- Number of LA Public School Customer BFP Devices = 20
- Number of County Facility BFP Devices = 35
- Number of County Parks = 28
- DOE/LANL Facility Devices = 12
BFP-CCC Program Background and History
- Agreement AGR17-41 was initiated in July 2017 with Viking II out of Albuquerque. The contract was extended in January 2024 to continue the program to avoid losing continuity.
- The County’s BFP-CCC database template for DPU was completely developed in February 2018 by DPU and Viking II staff.
- The County wide survey-investigation-inspection was begun in April 2018 and was completed by August 2018.
- Data from the County wide survey-investigation-inspection entered in September 2018, with continuous updates to the present (September 2024).
- Proposed BFP-CCC Program discussion by the BPU June 2018. Including discussion of any fees and fee implementation schedule.
- Approval of final version of Rule W-6 BFP-CCC Program; including fees and enforcement processes in July 2018.
- Educational materials passed out during April - August 2018 sweep inspection.
- Utility bill inserts regarding BFP-CCC Program changes distributed in December 2018.
- Reminder emails or letters to all customers in April 2019 about July 1, 2019 deadline. Letters regarding having both an acceptable installation and acceptable test result documentation submitted to DPU by July 1, 2019.
- Initiation of the fee schedule July 1, 2019 - included in customer correspondence.
- Annual inspection program review notification emails or letters to all affected customers every April each year - has continued to the present (September 2024).
- September 2024 - create new contract to continue the program.
Alternatives
N/A
Attachments
A - Water Rule W-6
B - Copy of the Agreement (AGR24-72) with Viking II, Inc.