ITEM:		ACTION ITEM
12.	CONSIDER FINDINGS PURSUANT TO PUBLIC CONTRACT CODE SECTION 22050
Meeting Date:			March 18, 2024	Budgeted:	No
From:			David J. Stoldt	Program/	Water Supply Projects
			General Manager	Line Item:	1-2-1
Prepared By:			Maureen Hamilton	Cost Estimate:	$400,000
General Counsel Review: N/A
Committee Recommendation: The Administrative Committee has not reviewed this item.
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines section 15378.

SUMMARY: The two Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) wells (Wells ASR-1 and ASR-2) permitted for injection experienced an event resulting in an injection capacity decline of over 33% on March 6, 2024. Staff attempted to recover injection capacity by performing a series of backflushes with no success. The ASR capacity loss constitutes an unexpected, emergency situation that must immediately be addressed. To recover ASR injection capacity both ASR wells must be rehabilitated.

Prior to full operation of Pure Water Monterey Expansion project, the Cal-Am system is relying on stored ASR water supply in lieu of overdrafted Seaside Groundwater Basin native water and illegal Carmel River water production to meet demand.

Staff recommends the District assess the benefit of a shut-down of injection for immediate well rehabilitation versus continuing constrained injection until the end of ASR injection season to maximize the quantity of this year’s stored ASR water and then immediately after this injection season ends, as late as June 1, 2024, begin rehabilitation. Rehabilitation to restore full ASR well capacity must be complete prior to the next injection season, which could begin as early as December 1, 2024, to maximize this critical water supply source volume.

The best-case rehabilitation schedule including contracts, bonds, submittals, procurement, and work completion is estimated to take at least 5 months assuming no delays after the contract is awarded. The public bidding process adds 6-8 weeks to the schedule. If a bid is protested, all bids are rejected, an Act of God occurs, or the low-bid contractor delays the work; we would exceed the best-case schedule.

Maintenance and repair work at the ASR facilities is fully reimbursable by Cal-Am per the Amended and Restated Aquifer Storage and Recovery Management and Operations Agreement executed February 23, 2021.

RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Directors:

1. Find pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22050 that based on the evidence set forth, a delay resulting from a competitive solicitation for bids isn’t permissible given the water supply shortage; and

2. Direct staff to obtain a quote and schedule for well rehabilitation and recommend a vendor at the next Board of Directors meeting.

EXHIBIT

12-A Memorandum Re: Residual Plugging of ASR 1 and ASR 2

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