Wichita Falls targets RO plant failure risk with $1.96m VFD replacement

Wichita Falls targets RO plant failure risk with $1.96m VFD replacementThe City Council considered a sole-source purchase from Innomotics LLC to replace six original variable frequency drives at the Cypress Reverse Osmosis Plant. The equipment has been in service since the plant came online in 2008.

The proposed sole-source purchase from Innomotics LLC is valued at $1,962,388.

Six VFDs controlling 300-horsepower motors would be replaced at the Cypress Reverse Osmosis Plant.

One drive is already out of service, and staff said the equipment has reached the end of its useful life.

Staff said failure to replace the drives would leave the RO plant inoperable and unable to treat Lake Kemp water.

Wichita Falls has put a $1.96 million renewal project at its Cypress Reverse Osmosis Plant before City Council, with utility staff identifying the plant's ageing variable frequency drives as a critical operational risk. The proposed resolution authorizes the sole-source purchase and replacement of six VFDs from Innomotics LLC for $1,962,388. The drives are original equipment installed when the reverse-osmosis facility entered service in 2008, nearly 20 years ago. A utilities representative told the council that the drives control 300-horsepower motors that push water through the plant's reverse-osmosis membranes for treatment. The equipment has reached the end of its useful life, staff said, and one drive is already down. The operational consequence of further failures could be significant. “The RO plant becomes inoperable,” the representative said in response to a question on the consequences of not proceeding with the replacement. Staff said the plant would then be unable to treat water from Lake Kemp. The VFD replacement was one of several water-utility procurements on the October 6 consent and regular agendas. The consent agenda also included purchases of horizontal split-case pumps for the Lake Arrowhead and 287 West pump stations, priced at $164,000 and $163,000 respectively, and a waterproof coating application for the Jasper Water Treatment Plant clarifier for up to $350,000. The Cypress project, however, was the item directly linked by staff to maintaining the operability of a treatment facility. The council agenda described the procurement as a sole-source purchase from Innomotics.