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DATE: <br />TO: <br />FROM: <br />MARCH 16, 2001 - <br />JAMES E. CHANDLER <br />COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR 1 I <br />DONALD R, HUBBS, P.E. <br />DIRECTOR OF UTILITY SERVICES <br />PREPARED AND GENE A. RAUTH G1}% <br />STAFFED BY: OPERATIONS MANAGER <br />SUBJECT: <br />BACKGROUND <br />INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SOUTH REVERSE OSMOSIS WATER <br />TREATMENT PLANT MEMBRANE REPLACEMENT <br />The Indian River County South Reverse Osmosis RO Water <br />t has een <br />producing potable water since July, 1983. Initially the plant capacity wras 2.0 millmentliion gallons per <br />day (MGD). The plant has undergone three expansions since the initial construction. The <br />current permitted capacity of the plant is 8.57 MGD. Camp Dresser R. McKee (CDM) was <br />authorized, on December 71 1999 under Work Authorization No. 10 <br />services to evaluate membrane process optimi, to perform engineering <br />zation on all four skids at the South County RO <br />Water Treatment Plants. The membranes at the South County RO Plant have decreased in <br />Performance since installation. <br />ANALYSIS <br />Reverse Osmosis Membranes are sensiti <br />Pressure drop across the membranes ve to fouling. Fouling of the membranes increase the <br />while also decreasing the water production capability. <br />Based upon CDM's Engineering Report (report on file), al <br />pressure drop ranging from l four skids show an increase in <br />approximatel 12.5% to 25%. <br />hresulted in a <br />loss in water production and significantly increased power c stssfor the plant.. The pr jec ed corresponding <br />cost <br />Of the membrane replacement project is estimated to be nearly one million dollars. A present <br />value analysis to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a membrane replacement has been performed <br />as part of Work Authorization No. 10 (report on file). The present value of the membrane <br />replacement savings through increased production is $882,000. The Utilities investment for <br />replacement of the membranes would be $819,500. The realized savings over the ten year life <br />cycle of the new membrane would be $62,500 ($882,000 - $819, <br />not include engineering and administration 500 = $62,500). These costs do <br />RECOMMENDATIONS <br />The staff of the Department of Utility Services is requesting approval from the Board of County <br />Commissioners to proceed with the formal RFP process for replacement of the membranes at the <br />South County RO Plant. <br />April 3, 2001 <br />