Title
Requisition No. REQ-0004156
Sludge Removal and Disposal Services at the Northeast, Southwest and Springwells Water Treatment Plants
O&M
Body
Agenda of: September 24, 2025
Item No.: 2025-283
Amount: $18,103,670.54
TO: The Honorable
Board of Directors
Great Lakes Water Authority
FROM: Suzanne R. Coffey, P.E.
Chief Executive Officer
Great Lakes Water Authority
DATE: August 29, 2025
RE: Requisition No. REQ-0004156
Sludge Removal and Disposal Services at the Northeast, Southwest and Springwells Water Treatment Plants
Vendor: American Process Group, LLC
Status: New Contract/PO
MOTION
Upon recommendation of Cheryl Porter, Chief Operating Officer - Water and Field Services, the Board of Directors (Board) of the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), authorizes the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to enter into Requisition No. REQ-0004156, “Sludge Removal and Disposal Services at the Northeast, Southwest and Springwells Water Treatment Plants” with American Process Group, LLC, at a cost not to exceed $18,103,670.54 for a duration of four (4) years and one (1) month; and authorizes the CEO to take such other action as may be necessary to accomplish the intent of this vote.
BACKGROUND
Alum sludge is a byproduct of the water treatment process that accumulates in the sedimentation basins and flocculation chambers. The sludge that accumulates during the settling process must be removed regularly to control turbidity and avoid water quality problems.
GLWA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit No. MI0022802 for discharge from the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) that took effect on May 1, 2013, required GLWA to develop an Alum Sludge Corrective Action Plan. The State of Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) approved GLWA’s Alum Sludge Corrective Action Plan on October 30, 2013. A requirement of this plan is to manually remove sludge from the sedimentation basins and flocculation chambers instead of discharging the sludge en masse to the sewer system as had been the previous practice. GLWA’s Northeast, Springwells, and Water Works Park sewers are tributaries to WRRF and are therefore affected by this NPDES’ permit limitation.
The sedimentation basins at Northeast and Springwells Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) are not equipped with a sludge removal system. To conform to the MDEQ approved Alum Sludge Corrective Action Plan, the sludge must be removed manually, dewatered on site, loaded, transported, and disposed of at a licensed solid waste landfill. Contracted sludge removal and disposal services have been conducted at Northeast and Springwells WTPs since November 2014 under Contract No. DWS-898, and Contract No. GLWA-CON-170/ SCN-0000308. Contracted sludge removal services at Southwest WTP were initiated in 2017 and included in the GLWA-CON-170 sludge removal contract because the mechanical sludge removal system at Southwest WTP was not fully functional and being rehabilitated.
The purpose of REQ-0004156 is to provide sludge removal and disposal services at Northeast and Springwells WTPs in compliance with the Alum Sludge Corrective Action Plan approved by MDEQ and to provide sludge removal services at Southwest WTP until the existing automated system is fully functional. REQ-0004156 is a construction contract between GLWA and American Process Group, LLC (the contract’s proposed awardee), to remove, dewater, transport and dispose of the sludge from the flocculation chambers and sedimentation basins at GLWA’s Northeast, Southwest and Springwells WTPs.
The existing sludge removal and disposal services contract, GLWA-CON-170/SCN-0000308 is set to expire on May 30, 2026. REQ-0004156 will replace GLWA-CON-170 providing GLWA with the means to remove and dispose of sedimentation sludge, preventing discharge of sludge to the sewer system in compliance with regulatory requirements and maintain quality water production.
JUSTIFICATION
Sludge cannot be discharged from the Northeast and Springwells WTPs to the sewer system en masse as a result of the limitations imposed by the NPDES permit for GLWA’s WRRF and the approved Alum Sludge Corrective Action Plan described in the background section above. The existing mechanical sludge removal system at the Southwest WTP has not been reliable and is currently under rehabilitation. Sludge that accumulates in the sedimentation basins and flocculation chambers at the Northeast, Southwest, and Springwells WTPs must be removed on an annual basis so that drinking water quality is not adversely affected. REQ-0004156 provides comprehensive sludge removal and disposal services at the Northeast, Southwest, and Springwells WTPs that will ensure regulatory compliance and drinking water of unquestionable quality.
FINANCIAL PLAN IMPACT
Summary: The proposed contract with American Process Group, encompasses Sludge Removal and Disposal Services at Northeast, Southwest and Springwells Water Plants. The current FY 2026 budget and five-year financial plan was based on previous experience and work performed. The sludge removal and disposal efforts vary from year to year due to the levels of turbidity of the water. The value of the project is contained within the current financial plan in total.
Funding Source: Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Budget
Cost Center(s): Springwells WTP Water Operations cost center 882141
Northeast WTP Water Operations cost center 882151
Southwest WTP Water Operations cost center 882161
Expense Type(s): Contractual Operating Services
Estimated Cost by Year and Related Estimating Variance: See table below.
Fiscal Year Amount
FY 2026 Budget (Prorated) $ 4,949,000.00
FY 2027 Financial Plan 9,989,400.00
FY 2028 Financial Plan 10,038,400.00
FY 2029 Financial Plan 6,855,600.00
FY 2030 Financial Plan (Prorated) 3,812,700.00
Financial Plan Forecast $ 35,645,100.00
Proposed Contract Amount 18,103,671.00
Variance (positive / (negative)) $ 17,541,429.00
COMMITTEE REVIEW
This item was presented to the Operations and Resources Committee at its meeting on September 10, 2025.
SHARED SERVICES IMPACT
This item does not impact the shared services agreement between GLWA and DWSD.