Title
Consider approving Resolution No. 2021-118 authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Trinity River Authority for regulatory and laboratory services; and take appropriate action
Body
BACKGROUND:
The City of Farmers Branch has a permit with the Trinity River Authority (TRA) and is connected to its wastewater collection and treatment system. As a permittee of TRA, the City must comply with its permit and strive to prevent the introduction of pollutants in the publicly owned treatment works (POTW) that will interfere with its operations, or that will pass through the POTW, inadequately treated, into receiving waters. As a result, POTWs must establish a pretreatment program.
Pretreatment means the treatment of wastewater by commercial and industrial facilities to remove harmful pollutants before being discharged into the sewer system and the POTW. To accomplish this purpose, the City contracts with TRA to provide permitting assistance, site inspections, and wastewater sampling of permitted businesses in Farmers Branch. In this arrangement, the City provides permits to businesses and industries operating within Farmers Branch that must treat their wastewater before they discharge into the City sewer system. Therefore, the City is responsible for enforcing noncompliance with the Code of Ordinances. TRA provides support by providing the technical expertise during site inspections and drafting permits. They handle all of the wastewater sampling and provide the results to the City and the City’s permittees.
Outside of the pretreatment program, the City also uses TRA for water and wastewater sample analyses. The City routinely collects water samples to determine compliance with its drinking water permit. The City occasionally may sample the raw wastewater, which is also analyzed by the TRA laboratory.
DISCUSSION:
The City began contracting with TRA for these services in 2017. TRA has 21 contracting parties within the region. TRA has a dedicated staff that provides pretreatment services to many of these cities and agencies that contract them for wastewater treatment. City staff has developed a good working relationship with the TRA pretreatment staff. They are an invaluable resource and experts in their field.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Budgeted Financial Impact $21,000 is budgeted in the Sustainability and Public Health FY 21-22 proposed budget (4129-630070)
DISTRICT:
City wide
RECOMMENDATION:
City Administration recommends approving Resolution No. 2021-118 authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Trinity River Authority for regulatory and laboratory services.
POSSIBLE COUNCIL ACTION:
1. I move to approve Resolution No. 2021-118 authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Trinity River Authority for regulatory and laboratory services.
2. I move to approve Resolution No. 2021-118 authorizing the City Manager to execute a contract with Trinity River Authority for regulatory and laboratory services, with modifications.
3. I move to table the issue for further study or take no action.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Resolution No. 2021-118
2. TRA Contract for Regulatory Services
3. TRA Contract Fee Schedule