DPW Water Storage Tanks contract discussed at Town Council meeting

Feb. 27, 2019 | Carling Willis
carling@thereminder.com

WEST SPRINGFIELD – At the West Springfield Town Council meeting on Feb. 19, the councilors discussed a new contract for the Department of Public Works (DPW) Water Storage Tanks on Pease Avenue and Interstate Drive. The new contract would be with SUEZ.

According to the company’s website, SUEZ specializes in chemical and equipment solutions for all water needs. SUEZ provides their customers with knowledge, experience and care in industrial water waste, process chemicals, municipal solutions and monitor and control. The company globally has more than 50,000 customers and 10,000 employees.

This will not be the first time West Springfield will be doing business with SUEZ; in 2016 SUEZ began a 15-year contract with a tank on Rogers Avenue. SUEZ rehabbed the inside and outside of the tank and now monitors the tank for any repairs, maintenance or cleaning. The company also gives the tank a yearly inspection.

Two representatives from SUEZ were in attendance at the meeting, Scott Kelly and Adam Szezesniak. The representatives had prepared a slide show to present to the council on why SUEZ would be an ideal choice for the two tanks.

“Everything we do is geared around asset management,” said Kelly.

Kelly presented the company’s Asset Management Practices Guide, which had five key components. These procedures included: assessing the current state of assets, assessing the level of service needed, assessing the critical assets, the minimum life cycle cost and long-term funding plans.

The Pease Avenue tank has a 16-year-old coating and the Interstate Drive tank has a 10-year-old coating. SUEZ will refurbish the outside of both of these tanks to update them. Along with refurbishing the outsides, SUEZ will also be installing new ladders and circulation pumps at the tanks to abide by updated safety standards. The company would implement the same 15-year contract that the tank on Rogers Avenue has with them.

After the representatives shared their slide show, the opportunity was opened up for the Council members to ask questions or make comments.  

“The old model was, let it go until failure and then deal with it,” commented Councilor Daniel O’Brien. “I’m very pleased to have preventative maintenance built into the contract with a reputable company.”

The decision to start a 15-year contract with SUEZ on the two water pumps was agreed upon in a unanimous vote.

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