Columbus City Council Considers Engineering Contract for Water Plant Sludge Lines
The legislation authorizes preliminary engineering to evaluate deteriorating force mains from the Dublin Road and Hap Cremean water plants to McKinley Avenue Quarry.
Ordinance legislation before Columbus City Council authorizes a professional engineering services contract with Brown and Caldwell for the city's Sludge Line Improvements project. The ordinance stands on second reading before council's Public Utilities & Sustainability Committee. Lawmakers introduced the measure on Monday, Oct. 26, and are scheduled to take a final vote on Monday, Nov. 2.
Operational Risks and Residuals Management
The Dublin Road Water Plant and Hap Cremean Water Plant serve as critical municipal facilities in the city's potable water supply system. Both facilities utilize force mains to convey water treatment residuals produced in the sedimentation and softening steps of the water treatment process from the plants to the McKinley Avenue Quarry.
According to city utility records, the force mains are critical to the operability and reliability of both plants but have deteriorated and slowed pumping rates over recent years. The Division of Water identified a need for design development, requiring the design professional to perform studies, evaluate alternatives, and recommend a conceptual implementation approach to improve the treatment residuals force mains. The engineering evaluation will evaluate sustainable design options for integration into the project to recommend features to carry forward into the design phase.
Aerial view of the Dublin Road Water Plant facility along Dublin Road in Columbus.
Credit: David E. Lucas / Columbus Metropolitan Library / DPLA Image source
Columbus Metropolitan Library collections document an aerial view of the Dublin Road Water Plant.
Aerial view of the Hap Cremean Water Plant in northern Columbus.
Credit: David E. Lucas / Columbus Metropolitan Library / DPLA Image source
Library collections also document an aerial view of the Morse Road facility, noting that it was renamed the Hap Cremean Water Plant in 1988 in honor of a former Columbus service director.
Multi-Phase Scope and Contract Breakdown
The pending legislation authorizes an expenditure of up to $1,322,800.00 from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund for the contract. City records allocate the $1,322,800.00 to the preliminary design phase. That proposed award includes a 15% contingency amount to fund needed and approved changes in the work.
City utility officials anticipate two planned contract modifications to add funding as work progresses. The overall contract total is $3,572,800.00. Those anticipated future renewals include $1,750,000 for the detailed design phase and $500,000 for engineering services during construction.
Under the municipal project timeline, the Notice to Proceed is anticipated to occur in the fourth quarter of 2026, the Draft Study Report is due 12 months after the Notice to Proceed, and the Final Study Report is anticipated 4 months after the Draft Report was accepted.
Procurement and State Loan Contingency
The project was formally advertised on municipal vendor websites from April 27, 2025, through May 29, 2025. City records show two proposals were received, from Brown and Caldwell and GDP Group. An evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended awarding the contract for the Sludge Line Improvements project to Brown and Caldwell.
The proposal includes three Columbus-based subconsultants: DLZ as a Minority Business Enterprise, alongside Resource International, Inc. and Regency Construction Services as Women Business Enterprises.
Financing for the sludge line improvements will be obtained through a loan from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account, jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority. City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of funding on June 1, 2026.
According to city fiscal records, the state loans are expected to receive state approval at the OWDA October Board meeting. The Ohio Water Development Authority board convened on Thursday, Oct. 29, to consider revolving loan approvals. The municipal ordinance is explicitly contingent upon the loan being approved by the OWDA Board. Under the state revolving loan program's reimbursement terms, Columbus Water and Power will pay Brown and Caldwell’s invoices directly before submitting them to the state authority for repayment.
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 19 that Columbus City Council reviewed capital water projects alongside emergency spending, and reported on Oct. 23 that council considered $4.65 million in water treatment chemical contracts.
How we know this
The sources and records behind this story, with the facts they support.
Supporting evidence (24)
Ordinance legislation before Columbus City Council authorizes a professional engineering services contract with Brown and Caldwell for the city's Sludge Line Improvements project.
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WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation to authorize the Director of Columbus Water and Power to enter into a professional engineering services contract with Brown and Caldwell, for the Sludge Line Improvements project; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
The ordinance stands on second reading before council's Public Utilities & Sustainability Committee.
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{Body=Public Utilities & Sustainability Committee, Content type=Legislation, Document coverage=API text and document metadata; linked PDF bytes are not retained, File=2624-2026, Legislation type=Ordinance, Municipality=columbus, Status=Second Reading, Text version=1}
The Dublin Road Water Plant and Hap Cremean Water Plant serve as critical municipal facilities in the city's potable water supply system.
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The Dublin Road Water Plant and Hap Cremean Water Plant are critical components in the City of Columbus’ potable water supply system.
Both facilities utilize force mains to convey water treatment residuals produced in the sedimentation and softening steps of the water treatment process from the plants to the McKinley Avenue Quarry.
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Both utilize force mains to convey water treatment residuals (aka sludge) produced in the sedimentation and softening steps of the water treatment process from the plants to the McKinley Avenue Quarry.
According to city utility records, the force mains are critical to the operability and reliability of both plants but have deteriorated and slowed pumping rates over recent years.
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These force mains are critical to the operability and reliability of DRWP and HCWP and have shown signs of aging and experienced reduction to the sludge pumping rate over recent years.
The Division of Water identified a need for design development, requiring the design professional to perform studies, evaluate alternatives, and recommend a conceptual implementation approach to improve the treatment residuals force mains.
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The Division of Water has identified a need for design development of the treatment residuals force mains at Dublin Road Water Plant and Hap Cremean Water Plant. The design professional shall perform studies and produce technical memoranda related to improving the treatment residuals force mains at Dublin Road Water Plant and Hap Cremean Water Plant, establish design criteria, identify and evaluate possible alternatives, and recommend a conceptual implementation approach.
The engineering evaluation will evaluate sustainable design options for integration into the project to recommend features to carry forward into the design phase.
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Sustainable design options will be evaluated for integration into the project. The evaluation will result in a set of recommended sustainable design features to carry forward into the design phase.
The pending legislation authorizes an expenditure of up to $1,322,800.00 from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund for the contract.
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to authorize the expenditure of up to $1,322,800.00 from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Fund for the contract. ($1,322,800.00)
City records allocate the $1,322,800.00 to the preliminary design phase.
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Preliminary Design Phase $1,322,800.00
That proposed award includes a 15% contingency amount to fund needed and approved changes in the work.
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The proposed award amount is $1,322,800.00, including a 15% contingency amount that will be utilized to fund needed and approved changes in the work.
City utility officials anticipate two planned contract modifications to add funding as work progresses.
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Two planned contract modifications to add funding are anticipated. One modification is planned at the completion of design development and a second is planned for services during construction.
The overall contract total is $3,572,800.00.
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CONTRACT TOTAL $3,572,800.00
Those anticipated future renewals include $1,750,000 for the detailed design phase and $500,000 for engineering services during construction.
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Detailed Design Phase (future renewal) $1,750,000.00
Those anticipated future renewals include $1,750,000 for the detailed design phase and $500,000 for engineering services during construction.
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Engineering Services During Construction (future renewal) $ 500,000.00
Under the municipal project timeline, the Notice to Proceed is anticipated to occur in the fourth quarter of 2026, the Draft Study Report is due 12 months after the Notice to Proceed, and the Final Study Report is anticipated 4 months after the Draft Report was accepted.
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TIMELINE: The Notice to Proceed is anticipated to occur in the fourth quarter of 2026. The Draft Study Report is due 12 months after the Notice to Proceed and the Final Study Report is anticipated 4 months after the Draft Report was accepted.
The project was formally advertised on municipal vendor websites from April 27, 2025, through May 29, 2025.
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This project was formally advertised on the Vendor Services and Euna/Bonfire websites from April 27, 2025, through May 29,2025.
City records show two proposals were received, from Brown and Caldwell and GDP Group.
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Two proposals were received: Name C.C. No. Exp. Date City/State Status Brown and Caldwell 010815 10/3/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ GDP Group 006560 6/23/2027 Columbus, OH MAJ
An evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended awarding the contract for the Sludge Line Improvements project to Brown and Caldwell.
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All proposals were deemed responsive. The evaluation committee reviewed the proposals and recommended the contract for the Sludge Line Improvements project be awarded to Brown and Caldwell.
The proposal includes three Columbus-based subconsultants: DLZ as a Minority Business Enterprise, alongside Resource International, Inc. and Regency Construction Services as Women Business Enterprises.
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Company Name City/State ODI Cert. Status DLZ Columbus, OH MBE Resource International, Inc. Columbus, OH WBE Regency Construction Services Columbus, OH WBE
Financing for the sludge line improvements will be obtained through a loan from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account, jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority.
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Funding for the sludge line improvements project, will be obtained through a loan from the Water Supply Revolving Loan Account (WSRLA), jointly administered by the Ohio EPA's Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance and the Ohio Water Development Authority (OWDA).
City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of funding on June 1, 2026.
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City Council authorized this loan application and acceptance of funding via Ordinance 1320-2026 passed by Council on 6/1/2026.
According to city fiscal records, the state loans are expected to receive state approval at the OWDA October Board meeting.
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The loans are expected to be approved at the OWDA October Board meeting.
The municipal ordinance is explicitly contingent upon the loan being approved by the OWDA Board.
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This ordinance is contingent upon the loan being approved by the OWDA Board.
Under the state revolving loan program's reimbursement terms, Columbus Water and Power will pay Brown and Caldwell’s invoices directly before submitting them to the state authority for repayment.
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The WSRLA program is a reimbursement program. Columbus Water and Power will need to pay Brown and Caldwell’s invoices and then submit them to OWDA for reimbursement.
Supporting evidence (1)
Columbus Metropolitan Library collections document an aerial view of the Dublin Road Water Plant.
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Description Aerial view of the Dublin Road Water Plant Collection Columbus Metropolitan Library
Supporting evidence (1)
Library collections also document an aerial view of the Morse Road facility, noting that it was renamed the Hap Cremean Water Plant in 1988 in honor of a former Columbus service director.
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Description Aerial view of the Morse Road Water Treatment Plant. In 1988, it was renamed the Hap Cremean Water Plant in honor of a former Columbus service director.
Columbus City Council Dockets Feature Emergency Spending, Water Projects, and Zoning Hearings
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 19 that Columbus City Council reviewed capital water projects alongside emergency spending, and reported on Oct. 23 that council considered $4.65 million in water treatment chemical contracts.
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Columbus City Council Dockets Feature Emergency Spending, Water Projects, and Zoning Hearings
Columbus City Council to Consider $4.65 Million for Water Treatment Chemicals
Supporting evidence (1)
Previously, Pique Media reported on Oct. 19 that Columbus City Council reviewed capital water projects alongside emergency spending, and reported on Oct. 23 that council considered $4.65 million in water treatment chemical contracts.
Read supporting passage
Columbus City Council to Consider $4.65 Million for Water Treatment Chemicals