Submitted By
Bill McKenna, Village Engineer
Reviewed By
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Agenda Item Title
Title
A Motion to Create a Pilot Program to Provide a Point of Use Water Filter Pitcher with Replacement Filters for Properties where Partial Lead Water Service Line Replacement Occurs as Part of Project 19-17, Water and Sewer Main Improvements, and Direct Staff to Purchase Water Filters in an Amount not to Exceed $30,000
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Overview
Overview
The Village Board requested staff provide information regarding options to mitigate the potential for an increase lead levels in the drinking water that are adjacent to Village construction activities on water service lines or water mains. Staff recommends the Village adopt a pilot program for providing point of use water filter pitchers with two replacement cartridges for properties where partial lead service line replacements occur in conjunction with the upcoming water main project. Following evaluation of the pilot program staff would propose a formal program for final Board approval and inclusion in future years’ budgets.
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Recommendation
Recommendation
Approve the Motion.
Body
Staff Recommendation
Approve the Motion.
Fiscal Impact
There are available funds for the purchase of water filters for the upcoming project on Scoville Avenue and Austin Boulevard in the FY2019 Budget in the Water and Sewer Fund, Public Works - Water, Water Distribution, Capital Improvements for Water Main Replacement account no. 5040-43730-777-570707 from unspent funds from deferring the Lake Street Water and Sewer project until 2020.
Background
As a part of the June 3, 2019, Village Board meeting staff was requested to provide information regarding partial lead water services to residents that are adjacent to Village construction activities on water service lines/water mains. Specifically, staff has reviewed options for providing water filters to residents where there is partial lead water service replacement work occurring in order to mitigate the potential for an increase in lead levels in the drinking water.
There are a number of commercial water treatment options available to remove lead from the drinking water ranging from whole-house/point-of-entry (POE) systems to point-of-use (POU) systems that treat the water where you use it. POE systems require modifications to plumbing systems, have high installation costs, and are a more permanent option if residents have long-term water quality or taste/odor concerns. Alternatively, POU systems are more appropriate for the relatively short-term impacts to drinking water quality including increased lead levels during construction work and water service line replacement work. POU systems are also characterized by their ease of use, simple installation and lower cost. POU filters range from under the sink mounted equipment, filters mounted to faucets, and filter pitchers. Filter pitchers are the only option that does not require plumbing modifications and that is compatible with every household as faucet mounted filters do not work with many of the more modern pull-down type kitchen faucets.
Staff researched other communities programs for addressing lead concerns with water service replacements including the City of Evanston program which addresses lead concerns with service line replacement work on water main improvement projects. The City of Evanston provide a point-of-use (POU) filter pitcher and two replacement filter cartridges to properties where partial or full lead service line replacements occur in conjunction with the annual Water Main Improvement Project. The City of Evanston’s webpage related to Lead in Drinking Water can be found here https://www.cityofevanston.org/government/departments/public-works/public-outreach/evanston-water-sewer-service/lead-in-drinking-water. Providing a POU filter pitcher with additional cartridges in conjunction with water main projects can help reduce exposure to lead in drinking water and is consistent with recommendations from American Water Works Association (AWWA).
Staff recommends the Village of Oak Park adopt a similar program for providing POU filter pitchers with two replacement cartridges for properties where partial lead service line replacements occur in conjunction with the annual Water Main Improvement Project.
There are several brands of POU filter pitchers that meet the standards for lead reduction and particulate reduction, NSF/ANSI Standards 53 and 42. Staff is currently determining which model to consider for purchasing based on their lead removal performance (many models remove 99%+ of lead), volume of water which can be filtered, customer reviews, availability, and cost. Costs for a filter pitcher with two additional cartridges are approximately $150. Some of the models being considered are Propur Water Filter Pitcher, Alexapure, Aquagear, Clearly Filtered, and ZeroWater. A table summarizing their features, costs, and contaminant reduction is attached. Staff is recommending the filter system from Aquagear due to its longer life of the filters and its cost.
The current project on Austin Boulevard and Scoville Avenue will impact 17 properties (comprised of 191 residential units) with lead water services based on our records. The majority of the properties are multi-family. Utilizing the POU filter pitchers for each of the 191 residential units equates to a cost of approximately $29,000 to provide drinking water filters for this current project.
Staff is proposing to purchase the water filters and have them for pickup by residents at Public Works. Information regarding the option to obtain free water filters can be included in the letter mailed to properties with the project and included on the Village’s website. Staff will modify the existing notification letters to include this language. A copy of the current “Lead in Drinking Water Notification” letter which is provided to properties on water main projects is attached. Residents can bring back a copy of the letter, or other proof of their mailing address, to Public Works and obtain the free filter pitcher and replacement filters.
Following completion and evaluation of this project, staff would propose a formal program (updated with information learned on this project) for final Board approval. Subsequently, pending Board approval, staff will include estimated funds for the purchase of water filters for anticipated water main projects in future years’ recommended budgets.
Water service replacement work is scheduled to occur on the upcoming project on Scoville and Austin in mid-July for Scoville and in August for Austin Boulevard. Pending Village Board concurrence, staff will need to purchase the water filter pitchers and replacement filters in order to have water filters available to residents impacted by the project when work is occurring. Staff will obtain formal price quotes from the vendors and select a filter system for the pilot program based on availability, life span of the filter pitcher and two additional replacement cartridges, and cost. Staff will present an item at an upcoming Board meeting for a Purchase Price Agreement for the filter systems after the actual purchase.
Alternatives
The alternative to this recommendation could be to delay action to gain additional information.
Previous Board Action
As a part of the June 3, 2019, Village Board meeting staff was requested to provide information regarding services to residents that are adjacent to Village construction activities on water service lines and water mains in order to mitigate the potential for an increase in lead levels in the drinking water.
Citizen Advisory Commission Action
N/A.
Anticipated Future Actions/Commitments
Pending Board concurrence, staff will obtain pricing for water filter pitchers and replacement filters and authorize the purchase of the filters in order to have the filters in-hand prior to the start of work on water service replacement with the upcoming project on Austin and Scoville. Staff will present an item at an upcoming Board meeting for a Purchase Price Agreement for the filter systems after the actual purchase.
Staff will review the success of the program and if appropriate recommend a formal program as part of the 2020 Budget.
Intergovernmental Cooperation Opportunities
None at this time.