Gainesville city council on Tuesday will consider the final approval of an $11.7 million contract for improvements to the Riverside Drive Water Treatment Plant's chemical system.
The lowest bid for the construction was awarded to Heavy Contractors, Inc. for $9,507,892, according to city documents. The remaining costs come in form of $632-thousand for construction administration from Jacobs, Inc.
Another $389-thousand will go towards design engineering to Hazen and Sawyer, Inc.
The upgrades will make the plant safer by eliminating chlorine gas from the water treatment processes, according to city officials.
"Chlorine gas is used for disinfection in the water system to keep the water clean in the pipes. We're moving to a sodium hydrochloride solution, which is just a fancy name for bleach," said Jarrett Nash, Gainesville Construction Services Section Chief.
"It's put in at a very low concentration, and provides disinfection to keep your water clean."
Nash said the chlorine gas is safely handled and that there have been no accidents with it, but if there were some sort of gas leak, it could be fatal, since the gas is poisonous.
The plan for these upgrades has been in the works for more than two years.
"It's going to be really nice. I think it's going to be an asset to the neighborhood," said Mayor Danny Dunagan at city council's work session Thursday morning.
Saturday
April 27th, 2024
12:49AM
