Single bid on water tower build

UPDATE MARCH 8: The contract to Landmark Structures was approved, as was the contract for the Wellington water treatment plant environmental assessments.

Artistic rendering of the new tank at Belleville Street looking north

Council will examine a $9,002,000 cost for the construction of Wellington’s water storage tank and bulk water filling station – over budget by $992,772.

For Tuesday night’s council meeting, a staff report recommends a contract be awarded to the sole bidder, Landmark Structures Co. Garrett Osborne, project manager, notes in his report to council that the number of companies that construct these tanks is limited, so a single bid was not unexpected.

In response to concern about low water pressure and the ability to handle future development, capital work reports were brought to council in 2019 for discussion. In the 20-year plan, the cost for water system improvements were estimated at $10-15 million – those costs were expected to be higher now mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain costs. The 1960s water system in Wellington has been modified over the years.

The request for tender in February was initially received at $10,070,000 but was revised with the bidder with alternate construction methods and efficiencies to reduce the cost but the bid remains at $992,772.15 over budget when combined with non-construction costs and a construction contingency. The RFT also included supply and installation of a permanent bulk water filling station. The tender price of $284,600 plus HST was within the available separate capital budget allocated for the project.

Construction of the new water tower and bulk water filling station is to begin in spring and be substantially completed by May 2023.

The County has adopted an area specific development charge for the Wellington urban serviced area. The construction of a new water tower was identified in the background study and 62 per cent of the total project cost or $6,311,270.25 is to be recovered through development charges.

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) in conjunction with the Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) recommend water distribution system pressures do not drop below 40psi and do not exceed 100psi in a water distribution system. Currently, some areas in Wellington experience pressures below the recommended minimum of 40psi. Once the new water tower is brought into operation water pressures within the existing urban area and development lands north of the Millennium Trail are to range from approximately 50 to 80psi. The proposed trunk watermain is required in
addition to the new water tower to service the lands north of the Millennium Trail.

The municipality held an online information session about the project earlier this month. The report notes seven questions were received ranging from working hours and dust control to landscape plans and decommissioning of the existing water tower.

Council would decide at a later date about the removal of the existing tower.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, council is being asked to award a $402,868 contract covering three related environmental assessments for the Wellington water and wastewater treatment plants and regional water supply class to CIMA Canada Inc., one of three bidders.