Sparwood awards bulk water station contract

A new bulk water station will be constructed at the end of Sparwood Drive after Sparwood council approved a $308,288 contract for the project.

Council authorized the acting mayor and corporate officer to enter into a contract with Speers Construction Incorporated during its July 7 meeting.

The contract is valued at $308,288 plus applicable taxes and does not include optional backup generator work.

Engineering Project Manager Bradley Bent said the new system will replace the District’s current process of providing bulk water through a hydrant inside the public works yard.

Under the existing system, municipal employees must manually install equipment, administer access and assist customers filling water tanks.

The new station will provide controlled and metered access without requiring the same level of direct staff involvement.

Bent said the project is expected to improve operating efficiency, reduce heavy vehicle traffic at the public works yard and simplify billing and cost recovery.

Bulk water is generally used by construction companies for activities including dust control and construction work.

The project was publicly tendered and received two compliant bids.

Speers Construction submitted the lowest compliant bid.

The project includes construction of the bulk water station and integration of supervisory control and data acquisition monitoring for both the new station and the Sparwood Drive lift station.

The tender also included optional work to install a backup generator serving the bulk water station and lift station.

Bent said the generator work exceeded the approved budget and was not recommended as part of the current contract.

The project will include construction of a generator pad and supporting electrical infrastructure, allowing a generator to be installed later.

Staff will also examine whether the District’s bulk water rate should be updated to account for the new infrastructure.

Council unanimously approved the construction contract.