Department
Public Works
Requested Action (Identify appropriate Action or Motion, purpose, cost, timeframe, etc.)
title
Request approval of a service account agreement letter - Department of Public Works, Drinking Water Laboratory and Related Services account agreement letter in the amount of $17,600.00 with the State of Georgia / DNR - Environmental Protection Division (EPD) (Atlanta, GA), to provide drinking water laboratory and related services for the contract period effective from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. (APPROVED)
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Requirement for Board Action (Cite specific Board policy, statute or code requirement)
In accordance with State of Georgia O.C.G.A. §36-10-1, requests for approval of contractual agreements shall be forwarded to the Board of Commissioners for approval.
Strategic Priority Area related to this item (If yes, note strategic priority area below)
Health and Human Services
Commission Districts Affected
All Districts ☐
District 1 ☒
District 2 ☒
District 3 ☐
District 4 ☐
District 5 ☐
District 6 ☐
Is this a purchasing item?
No
Summary & Background (First sentence includes Agency recommendation. Provide an executive summary of the action that gives an overview of the relevant details for the item.)
Scope of Work:
Regular laboratory testing of the drinking water provided by Fulton County to customers in the North Fulton service area, north of the Chattahoochee River, is required as a condition of Fulton County’s Permit to Operate a Public Community Water System (Permit #121005). The State of Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Environmental Protection Division Watershed Protection Branch Drinking Water Program provides laboratory testing and related services that are not readily available to drinking water utilities in the State of Georgia. Fulton County is a participant in this program.
The Drinking Water Laboratory and Related Services letter contract period is from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 and is in the amount of $17,600.00 annually with State of Georgia / DNR -
Environmental Protection Division (EPD) (Atlanta, GA), to provide drinking water laboratory and related services.
The letter contract with EPD is structured to automatically renew each year unless the water system provides written notice of termination by June 1st of each year.
These services provide a high level of assurance that the public water systems comply with all the conditions in our Permit to Operate a Public Community Water System, and to comply with Georgia Rules for Safe Drinking Water (Chapter 391-3-5), the Georgia Safe Drinking Water Act (O.C.G.A. Sec. 12-5-170), and the US Safe Drinking Water Act and Regulations (40 CFR 136, 141, and 142). Those requirements are to ensure safe drinking water to citizens through surveillance by testing the drinking water for various constituents at varying schedules. This laboratory services contract offers Fulton County compliance assistance by providing scheduling, analytical testing, and reporting on the water system’s behalf.
Sampling for various constituents has to be performed at either a) each entry point into the distribution system (e.g., volatile organic chemicals), or b) at various locations in the distribution system (e.g., lead & copper). Contaminants may be introduced at any point in the water production process: from the original source of water (i.e., river; from storage facilities (tanks); and from places in the distribution system (i.e., the piping conveyances from the treatment plant(s) to customers’ homes and businesses).
Funding for this agreement has been budgeted by Public Works as part of the 2021 budget and will utilize account 201-540-5488-1160 to cover the anticipated $17,600.00 payment.
Community Impact:
Testing by the Georgia EPD provides the community with enhanced confidence in the quality of drinking water provided to our customers. These testing services are provided for the service area of the North Fulton County Water System.
Department Recommendation:
The Department recommends approval of this letter contract and continued participation in this program.
Project Implications:
These services are already planned for within the Department’s budget, service provision, or operations.
Community Issues/Concerns:
No issues or concerns have been raised concerning having the State perform these testing services for Fulton County.
Department Issues/Concerns:
No issues or concerns have been raised by the Department regarding this letter contract.