Thursday, April 25, 2024
In an effort to secure reliable access to water, the Gatesville City Council approved the purchase of a water pump for the Lake Belton intake structure during the May 23 meeting of the council.
"There is a concern if the pump goes out it could impact our ability to get water during the hot summer months," said City Manager Scott Albert, who was serving in that capacity for his first meeting. Albert officially started working for the city on May 10. He was present at the May 9 council meeting, but Interim City Manager Bill Parry was at that meeting as lead facilitator for the council.
The estimate to replace the pump, received from Global Pump Solutions, is $136,150. The city plans to use funds from the utility fund balance to pay for the pump. The project will be subcontracted to Jergensen Pump, "which is familiar with the pumps at the city's intake structure," according to a memorandum to the council.
Information provided to the council indicates that this intake structure at Lake Belton consists of four pumps used to draw water, which is then treated at the city's water treatment plant.
The memorandum to council indicates "one of the four pumps lost a bearing, leading to the pump locking up and becoming inoperative. Although we have three operating pumps, one of the three pumps is an original pump installed when the intake structure was first built and has limited pumping capacity."
If the city were to lose a second pump, the note to council said, the city could be required "to implement mandatory water rationing."
The purchase of the pump will help to resolve those concerns.
Because Global Pump Solutions is a member of the BuyBoard, a member of the pre-approved purchasing cooperative, the city did not have to seek bids for the purchase of the pump.
