17 - Project #196 Costa Mesa Sanitary District
…an Independent Special District
Protecting our community’s health and the environment by providing solid waste and sewer collection services.
www.cmsdca.gov
Memorandum
To: Board of Directors
Via: Scott Carroll, General Manager
From: Rob Hamers, District Engineer
Date: September 26, 2013
Subject: Project #196 – Permanent Emergency Equipment at Critical Pump
Stations
Summary
The electrical power supply from Southern California Edison is no longer as reliable as in
years past. In order to mitigate this new reality, management and engineering staff have
been working towards the goal of installing backup power sources in the form of standby
diesel generators for two critical pumping stations and backup pumping units at four other
critical pumping stations. The Irvine and Canyon pumping stations will have standby
diesel generators and the Elden, Victoria, Mendoza and 23 rd Pumping Stations will have
backup pumping units. A diagram of a backup pumping unit and a representative picture
of two backup pumping units are attached hereto.
Staff Recommendation
The Board of Directors receives and files this report.
Analysis
Included below is an update on each of the stations:
Irvine Pumping Station
The pumping station is located at the corner of Irvine Avenue and Mesa Drive and a recent
SCADA failure on 8/31/13 caused 77,000 gallons of wastewater to be lost into the Orange
County Flood Control District Santa Ana Delhi Channel and then into the Upper Newport
ITEM NO. 17
Board of Directors
September 26, 2013
Page 2 of 4
Bay. When a feasibility study was conducted it was determined that a standby diesel
generator can be located on the slope near the existing pump station. However, the slope
is private property owned by the Back Bay Center. When staff approached Back Bay
Center management about the generator they prefer to have the generator underground
and out of sight. This option was unacceptable to staff because of high cost for
constructing underground vaults and for maintenance cost (e.g. confine space woul d be
required). Staff and management looked at other sites on the Back Bay Center in which
we agreed to install a natural gas generator underneath a carport, but space between the
generator and an existing compressor appears to be the last issue to resolv e before
negotiating a lease agreement and constructions drawings can begin. The General
Manager will have additional information to report at the time of this meeting.
Canyon Pumping Station
The District has successfully negotiated a 5 -year easement on two adjoining properties at
2247 State Avenue and 2250 Canyon Drive for the placement of the standby diesel
generator. A 5 -year agreement is being utilized to coincide with the pumping station
abandonment project that should be completed in the 2018 -2019 fiscal year. The 5 -year
agreement will be brought to the Board for approval and execution at the October regular
Board meeting. The generator plans have been approved by the City of Costa Mesa
Building Department and are in plan check at the City Engine ering Department.
Mendoza Pumping Station
Fortunately, the Mendoza Pumping Station is in a fenced -in area in an alley south of Baker
Street. Because of the existing fence, which the District has agreed with the City will be
upgraded at the District’s cost, the City of Costa Mesa is not requiring the backup pumping
unit to be housed in a slump stone block wall building with roof as is being requi red for the
Elden and Victoria s tations. Construction plans for this station are complete and it is likely
this station along with Elden and Victoria will be bid as one project in the very near future .
Elden Pumping Station and Victoria Pumping Station
Installation of a backup pumping unit inside a slump stone block wall building at each of
these stations is being required by the City and is challenging due to the l imited available
space. Elden s tation, located at Elden Avenue and Mesa Drive , has the tall Santa Ana
Golf Course fence o n one side and the pumping station vaults, by pass equipment, and
force main nearby leaving very little open space . Due to these limitations, a special sliding
door will have to be used due to limited clearance.
Board of Directors
September 26 , 2013
Page 3 of 4
The Victoria Station, which is in the Miner Street cul -de -sac, has a large City storm drain
crossing through the area thereby forcing the building to be shifted to the east and causing
extra angle points in the discharge line from the backup pumping unit.
The construction plans for Elden and Victori a include the use of a pre -fabricated building
that will be assembled off -site and then shipped to the job site. Extensive coordination
between the building manufacturer and the pumping unit manufacturer is necessary to
include the venting, electricity , a nd operation al requirements.
23 rd Street Pumping Station
The 23 rd Street station is located in Newport Beach and the City has strict requirements
regarding new utility installations. The station is directly across the street from the Upper
Newport Bay and any SSO will enter the bay within minutes because the city storm drain
is immediately adjacent to the pumping station. The City’s policy requires all new utility
installations to be underground, which would significantly increase capital and on -going
cost s for the proposed backup pumping unit. Any time electrical equipment is located
underground, air venting becomes significant as does insuring rainwater and moisture is
properly handled.
After a series of negotiations with the City, the City determined an above -ground walled -in
location in the slope adjacent to the pumping station was acceptable. However, this
location is further up the street and required the District to perform extra survey work, soils
engineering, and structural engineering and the plan preparation is still in progress.
Approvals will be needed from the City’s planning department, building department, and
public works department.
In conclusion, m anagement and engineering staff has found the rather simple engineering
design of standby diesel generators and backup pumping units has become challenging
due to limited space and the added city requirements for enclosed buildings a nd extensive
review .
Strategic Plan Element & Goal
This item complies with t he objective and strategy of Strategic Plan Element 1.0, Sewer
Infrastructure , which states as follows :
”Objective: Our objective is to collect and transport wastewater to meet the needs of
existing and future customers.
Strategy: We will do this by the careful management of the collection infrastructure using
prudent planning and maintenance, with financial strategies to maintain sufficient capacity
and respond to changing regulatory demands.”
Board of Directors
September 26, 2013
Page 4 of 4
Legal Review
This report does not necessitate District coun sel review.
Financial Review
A total of $1,0 6 0,000 is budgeted for this project. To date, the District has spent $6 4,571 .
This project has a balance of $995,429.
Public Notice Process
Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the entire agenda packet for the
September 26, 2013 regular Board of Directors meeting at District Headquarters and on
the District website.
Alternative Actions
1. Direct staff to report back with more information.
Attachments:
1. Diagram of Godwin Backup Pumping Unit
2. Picture of 2 Godwin Backup Pumping Units
Reviewed by:
Stacey Cuevas
Finance Manager