Title
Consider a resolution approving the action of the Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) in authorizing the execution of a Contract with Thalle Construction Company for the BCRUA 36-inch Underwater Pipeline Project.
Body
The Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority (BCRUA) Phase 1, Contract 2 Raw Water Line was completed in 2012 and consists of a 36-inch diameter ductile iron pipeline laid on the lakebed of Lake Travis. The pipeline connects an underwater pipeline manifold at the floating raw water intake barge to the 78-inch diameter raw water pipeline on Trails End Road. The 36-inch diameter raw water pipeline and the raw water intake barge are a temporary raw water delivery system to provide water the BCRUA Water Treatment Plant until the Phase 2 Raw Water Delivery System comes online.
On December 21, 2020, the 36-inch diameter pipeline failed resulting in the loss of service of the BCRUA regional water system. The 36-Inch Underwater Pipeline Repair Project was conducted to repair the pipeline. The repair was completed in early May 2021 and returned the BCRUA system to service. To monitor the repair, regular inspections of the underwater pipeline have been conducted weekly, then bi-monthly, since that time.
On August 8, 2022, during one of these routine underwater inspections, a leak was discovered on the section of the 36-inch raw water pipe that was repaired in 2021. The size of the leak is estimated at 1 million gallons per day, or about 3 percent of the pipe capacity. It is unclear what caused the new leak. While the pipeline remains in service and flow is stable at this time, due to the critical nature of this pipeline, staff is recommending a repair to be completed as soon as possible. To conduct the repair, staff recommends contracting with Thalle Construction Company, BCRUA’s Phase 2 deep water intake contractor, to make the needed repairs. Staff is familiar with Thalle Construction Company’s underwater marine construction experie...
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