City of Fresno wastewater treatment plant — Photo: City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities
Fresno City Council Approves $580,000 Contract Increase for Wastewater Treatment Chemicals
The Fresno City Council approved a $580,000 increase to a contract with Kemira Water Solutions, bringing the first-year total to $1.79 million, to purchase ferric chloride — a chemical used to control odors and hydrogen sulfide at the Fresno/Clovis Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility.
The amendment also increases subsequent one-year terms by $336,018.20 to $1.55 million. The contract supplies the chemical for odor control at the facility’s headworks and for reducing hydrogen sulfide in digester gas produced during wastewater treatment.
The Department of Public Utilities recommended the increase, and the Director of Public Utilities is now authorized to sign the amendment on behalf of the city.
The Breakdown
- The original contract total was $1.22 million annually; this amendment raises it to $1.79 million for the remaining first year
- Subsequent one-year terms increase from $1.22 million to $1.55 million each
- Ferric chloride is used at the wastewater facility’s headworks for odor control and to reduce hydrogen sulfide in digester gas
- The contract includes provisions for two additional one-year extensions
What This Means for You
This is $580,000 in additional public spending approved by the council you elect — money that goes toward keeping the city’s wastewater treatment running and controlling odors from the facility. The substance of what’s being purchased (a treatment chemical) doesn’t change, but the amount being spent does, and that’s a budget decision the council makes on your behalf. If wastewater management and how the city allocates public dollars matter to you, this is the kind of vote that shows how those priorities actually play out.
What to Watch
The staff report does not explain what drove the need for this increase. This is a “requirements contract,” meaning the city is committing to this supplier for the duration of the agreement. The contract binds the city to these amounts through the term and any extensions, not just this year’s budget.
