HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-17 City Commission Packet Materials - C8. MOA for E. Gallatin Water Quality Sampling
Commission Memorandum
REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: Brian Heaston, Project Engineer Craig Woolard, Public Works Director SUBJECT: Authorize the Interim City Manager to a Memorandum of Agreement with the
Gallatin Local Water Quality District for the 2017 East Gallatin River Water Quality Sampling
Project. MEETING DATE: May 22, 2017
AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Interim City Manager to a Memorandum of Agreement with the Gallatin Local Water Quality District for the 2017 East Gallatin River Water Quality
Sampling Project.
BACKGROUND: The City continues its endeavors to obtain water quality data to further develop and refine its East Gallatin River water quality model. Substantial annual data collection efforts have been ongoing since 2014. HDR Engineering has utilized these data to
develop a calibrated water quality model of the river system. The model simulates the fate and
transport of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) in the riverine ecosystem as well as
algae growth responses to these nutrients in the river. The model serves as an important tool to inform wastewater discharge permit discussions with MT DEQ as the water quality of the East Gallatin River is impaired for TN and TP. Water quality impairment means the river is not
currently meeting water quality standards established by the state. For the East Gallatin River at
the WRF discharge outfall, these standards are established at 0.3 mg/L and 0.04 mg/L for TN
and TP respectively, which are well beyond the limits of current wastewater treatment technology to achieve.
The recent $55mln WRF upgrade produces a high quality effluent of 4.6 mg/L TN and 0.16
mg/L TP on average, which is amongst the best in class for the treatment process utilized. The
river is currently impaired for TN/TP above the WRF outfall, so despite the enormous investment recently made in the WRF upgrade, DEQ may impose additional capital improvements through future discharge permits to reduce the WRF effluent nutrient
concentrations even further. The water quality model will be a pivotal tool in future discharge
permitting discussions with DEQ as it provides a scientific basis for identifying water quality
investments that serve the East Gallatin River most effectively.
130
The attached Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Gallatin Local Water Quality District
(GLWQD) outlines the scope of water quality sampling activities for the 2017 field season. The
2017 data aims to fill in data gaps associated with simulated algae growth spikes. Sampling will
focus on two areas of the river: 1) the reach immediately downstream of the water reclamation facility discharge outfall; 2) a reach north of Belgrade in the vicinity of Hamilton Road and the
Dry Creek Canal irrigation diversion.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES: None.
ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission.
FISCAL EFFECTS: The total cost to the city for the 2017 East Gallatin River Water Quality
Sampling Project is estimated at $36,300. Costs are associated with professional services
performed by the GLWQD as well as laboratory analytical costs. Lab costs are estimated to not exceed $22,000. GLWQD professional services costs are not to exceed $14,300. Costs for the
project are funded from Project WW27 in the Wastewater Fund CIP. Field work and lab
analysis will begin in June and end in October, thus spanning both FY17 and FY18. The current
FY17 WRF budget contains $200k for project WW27 and adequate budget remains to cover the
2017 sampling project work occurring in June. The approved FY18 Wastewater Fund CIP contains $60k for project WW27. Adequate funding is available.
ATTACHMENTS: MOA for 2017 East Gallatin River Water Quality Sampling
131
132
133
134
135