Mesa approves VFD replacements for Brown Road Water Treatment Plant alongside backup power contracts

Mesa approves VFD replacements for Brown Road Water Treatment Plant alongside backup power contractsThe City of Mesa is investing $157,000 to replace aging variable frequency drives at its Brown Road facility and committing up to $600,000 annually for emergency generator rentals to protect water infrastructure against power failures.

The City Council approved a $157,000 sole-source contract with Border States for variable frequency drives at the Brown Road Water Treatment Plant.

The new equipment will replace obsolete components serving washwater recovery basin pumps and flocculators for basins 1 through 6.

Council also cleared a $600,000 annual contract for emergency generator rentals to maintain operational readiness at pump stations during Arizona's hot summer months.

The City of Mesa, Arizona, has approved crucial equipment upgrades for its municipal water treatment operations, advancing a sole-source procurement to replace aging components at the Brown Road Water Treatment Plant. Approved as part of the City Council's May 4, 2026, consent agenda, the $157,000 contract with Border States will provide new variable frequency drives (VFDs). The equipment will replace obsolete drives that currently serve the plant's washwater recovery basin pumps and six flocculator drives for basins 1 through 6. According to utility documents, the replacements are critical for regulating pump flow and controlling flocculator mixing speeds. These functions are essential for maintaining stable treatment processes, ensuring consistent water quality, and complying with regulatory standards. The existing drives had exceeded their useful life, making ongoing maintenance increasingly difficult due to component obsolescence. In a parallel effort to bolster water system resilience, the council also approved a three-year term contract for emergency and non-emergency generator rental services. Valued at up to $600,000 annually, the contract serves the Water Resources Department, Facilities Management, and the Department of Innovation and Technology. The rental generators, transformers, and power cables will provide essential backup power for sites lacking redundant systems, specifically including municipal pump stations. City documents noted that these standby units are heavily relied upon during the hot Arizona summer months to maintain operational readiness during power failures, thereby protecting public health and the environment. The generator rental contract was awarded to a pool of vendors including H&E Equipment Services, Herc Rentals, GenServe LLC, and Garner Environmental Services.