Mesa advances Pecos Road sewer line, approves $420,000 annual carbon contract for water treatment

Mesa advances Pecos Road sewer line, approves $420,000 annual carbon contract for water treatmentThe city council unanimously authorized eminent domain proceedings for a critical sewer relief project and secured long-term chemical supplies to manage taste and odor in Central Arizona Project water.

Council authorized the acquisition of property rights, including eminent domain, for the Pecos Road Relief Sewer Line.

Arq Purification, LLC was awarded a five-year, $420,000 annual contract to supply powdered activated carbon to the Brown Road Water Treatment Plant.

An intergovernmental agreement was approved for a $421,730 stormwater drainage project, with 75% of costs reimbursed by the county flood control district.

The Mesa City Council voted unanimously on May 18 to advance key water, wastewater, and stormwater initiatives, including securing necessary easements for a new sewer line and finalizing a long-term chemical supply contract for drinking water treatment. During the meeting, the council authorized continued negotiations and the potential use of eminent domain to acquire real property rights for the Pecos Road Relief Sewer Line. The required easement is located at the northwest corner of Power Road and Pecos Road in neighboring Gilbert, Arizona. The item was pulled from the consent agenda for a brief public comment, where a local resident voiced support for the project to alleviate local sewer odors, before the council passed it unanimously. On the drinking water front, the council approved a five-year term contract with Arq Purification, LLC to supply powdered activated carbon (PAC) for the Brown Road Water Treatment Plant. The contract is valued at up to $420,000 annually, with allowances for up to a 5% or Consumer Price Index-adjusted increase each year. The PAC is utilized to remove total organic carbon and control taste and odor issues in raw water drawn from the Central Arizona Project canal system, ensuring compliance with regulatory water quality standards. Additionally, the council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Flood Control District of Maricopa County for stormwater drainage improvements along Southern Avenue. The $421,730 project will expand existing perimeter wall openings and install grates within a channel to improve flow capacity. The Flood Control District will reimburse 75% of the costs, leaving the city with a $105,433 fiscal impact funded by Mesa's Environmental Compliance Fee.