Polk County approves $371,385 utility asset risk analysis with Black & Veatch

Polk County approves $371,385 utility asset risk analysis with Black & VeatchThe Board of County Commissioners has authorized a new study to assess risks associated with the county's horizontal water and wastewater infrastructure.

The board approved a $371,385 contract with Black & Veatch Corp.

The project will focus on a Horizontal Asset Risk Analysis for the Utilities division.

The approval was authorized as a one-time expense under Consultant Services Authorization 18-066-04.

The Polk County Board of County Commissioners has moved forward with an initiative to assess the condition and risk profile of its utility infrastructure. During its regular meeting, the board approved Consultant Services Authorization 18-066-04 with Black & Veatch Corp. The authorization serves to fund a "Horizontal Asset Risk Analysis project" for the county's Utilities division. The agreement was approved as a not-to-exceed, one-time expense of $371,385. Horizontal assets in municipal utilities typically refer to linear infrastructure such as water distribution pipes and sewer collection mains, distinct from vertical assets like treatment plants and pump stations. Black & Veatch brings a history of similar infrastructure prioritization and condition assessment work for municipalities including Dallas, Miami, and Lawrence, Kansas. The firm is known for utilizing advanced risk modeling techniques, such as Monte Carlo simulations, to help utilities predict performance failures and map out capital replacement plans for aging systems. The item was processed as part of the board's consent agenda.