NW Valley Times

The city of Peoria on June 6 approved two contracts relating to its water infrastructure, with two different contractors moving ahead with reservoir and booster pump station improvements, and the drilling of new wells in its water system. 

At the Peoria City Council meeting, Mayor Jason Beck and other city officials were presented with two contracts. The two items were both parts of an ongoing larger Northern Well Field project. 

The larger project is on Lake Pleasant Parkway and Loop 303 where the city plans to construct five new wells, all associated piping, a booster pump station and a reservoir. This is in anticipation of future water needs, given recent droughts, as well as anticipating growth and expansion in the area.

“We want to be able, as soon as we get the land and design package for the reservoir, to start that construction, said Adina Lund, the director of development and engineering. “That’s going to take a huge team out there building it, and we want to be able to get out of the way to install the rest of the equipment. 

"This is done with guaranteed maximum prices so that as each design piece is in place, we move forward with the appropriate construction contract," she added. "It’s going as fast as possible because we’re trying to cut two years off the timeline.”

Her team estimates it will be back in one year to make requests for final design and contract approvals.

This CIP project is intended to mitigate water supply reductions and allow economic development opportunities in North Peoria.

Water Services Director Cape Powers gave an overview of the entire future project, entailing the two contracts being placed before council. 

The first was a contract amendment approval with Felix Construction, “to provide design and construction services for the Zone 6E Reservoir and Booster Pump Station project,” he said. The construction approval will cost $12,997,577. The design and construction with Felix also includes the new water treatment facility construction, according to Powers. 

A second was a contract with Archer Western and will drill and construct new wells. This will be phase two of the well portions and will cost $8,722,579, Powers said.