IEUA awards $14.4 million contract to resurrect non-functional primary clarifiers at RP-1

IEUA awards $14.4 million contract to resurrect non-functional primary clarifiers at RP-1GSE Construction Company has secured the contract to overhaul ten primary clarifiers at the Inland Empire Utilities Agency's Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 1, a critical rehabilitation project driven by severe concrete deterioration and corroded mechanical systems.

GSE Construction Company won the contract with a $14,463,363 bid, exceeding the $13 million engineer's estimate due to rising epoxy coating and labor costs.

Primary clarifiers No. 1 through No. 6 are currently non-functional and only used during peak flow events.

The project will be executed in three phases, with construction completion slated for October 2028.

The Board also approved an $8.3 million contract to Ferreira Coastal Construction for the Montclair Force Main Improvements Project.

Kevin Alexander was officially appointed as the agency's new General Manager with a base salary of $401,250.

On April 15, the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) Board of Directors unanimously approved a $14,463,363 construction contract for the comprehensive rehabilitation of ten primary clarifiers at Regional Water Recycling Plant No. 1 (RP-1). Consultant Senior Engineer Omar Dandashi informed the Board that primary clarifiers No. 1 through No. 6 are currently non-functional and restricted to peak flow events, leaving only four units fully operational. The infrastructure suffers from deteriorated internal concrete walls, corroded worm and gear mechanisms, and aging chain-and-flight motor systems. Furthermore, the existing clarifier covers have exceeded their useful life, and the current primary scum well pumps are failing to effectively remove floating material. The rehabilitation scope includes replacing the chain-and-flight systems, worm and gear mechanisms, and scum well chopper pumps. It also entails concrete surface rehabilitation, the installation of new aluminum covers with fall protection, and the relocation of a surface recycled water line to the interior of the clarifiers. Following a 45-day solicitation period, GSE Construction Company, Inc. was identified as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The winning bid exceeded the engineer's estimate of $13 million, a discrepancy Dandashi attributed to the increased cost of epoxy coating and associated labor. The Board also approved a $292,302 engineering services during construction contract amendment for Stantec Consulting Services, Inc., the engineer of record for the design phase. The project will be executed in three phases to maintain plant capacity. The first phase aims to restore the currently operational capacity plus three additional clarifiers within 12 months. Full project completion is scheduled for October 2028. In a separate action, the Board awarded an $8,399,000 construction contract to Ferreira Construction Co., Inc. DBA Ferreira Coastal Construction for the Montclair Force Main Improvements Project. Associate Engineer Kristian Saenz noted that the project involves installing 4,600 linear feet of 20-inch high-density polyethylene pipeline to replace a 50-year-old force main that currently lacks redundancy and access for maintenance. The meeting also marked a major leadership transition for the agency, with the Board officially approving the employment contract for new General Manager Kevin Alexander. The contract sets a base salary of $401,250 and runs through June 30, 2029.