Regional Water System
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Leonard Water Treatment Plant (WTP) - South 25 kV Overhead Electrical Loop; Project No. 101-0669-25; Construction Agreement
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SUBJECT
recommendation
Authorize the Executive Director to enter into an agreement with Fannin County Electric Cooperative (FCEC) for the construction of a 25 kilovolt (25 kV) overhead electric loop and substation expansion associated with providing electric power service to the Leonard Water Treatment Plant (Leonard WTP) southside for future expansions; including the Leonard WTP High Service Pump Station-South. The agreement with FCEC to construct these facilities would be in the not-to-exceed amount of $8,413,332.
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PURPOSE
Leonard WTP is planned for an ultimate capacity of 280 million gallons per day (MGD). The plant is currently rated at 86 MGD, and the Phase II expansion will increase the plant’s capacity to 152 MGD. FCEC currently provides electrical service for Leonard WTP Phases I and II and the High Service Pump Station - North at the facility. The Leonard WTP site is separated into the north side and south side by a road. Phases I and II advanced treatment processes are located on the north side and the future plant expansions (Phase III and Phase IV) are located on the south side. FCEC will provide an electrical service of 25 kV to the south parcel for future expansion.
RECOMMENDATION
The Executive Director and NTMWD staff recommend the Board of Directors to authorize the Executive Director to execute a construction agreement as follows:
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Electric Service: |
Fannin County Electric Cooperative (FCEC) |
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Scope: |
Construction agreement |
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Project: |
No. 101-0669-25, Leonard WTP - South 25kV Overhead Electric Loop |
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Amount: |
$8,413,332 |
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Committee: |
This will be an item on the October 21, 2026, Water Committee meeting agenda |
DRIVER(S) FOR THIS PROJECT
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Strategic Objective: |
1.2 Successfully Deliver Capital Program 1.4 Reliable and Resilient Systems |
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☐ Regulatory Compliance |
☐ Asset Condition |
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☒ Capacity |
☒ Redundancy/Resiliency |
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☐ Relocation or External Requests |
☒ Operational Efficiency |
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☐ Safety |
☐ Administrative |
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☐ Policy |
☐ Other _____________ |
BACKGROUND
The Leonard WTP has an ultimate planned capacity of 280 MGD. Projected demand growth in the District's service area requires Leonard WTP to have a treatment capacity of 210 MGD no later than Fall/Winter of 2030. The Leonard WTP Phase III expansion project, currently in the preliminary design phase, will increase the treatment capacity to 210 MGD. Leonard WTP Phase III and the Leonard WTP High Service Pump Station South necessitate the expansion of the existing substation at the Leonard Water Treatment Plant and the addition of a new overhead 25 kV electrical to power the new facilities. This new south power loop will connect to the existing north power loop, allowing power source switching outside the substation and enhancing overall plant resiliency in emergency situations.
FCEC will manage the procurement phase and the construction to expand the existing electrical substation at Leonard WTP that transforms the 138-kilovolt transmission voltage to a 25 kV distribution voltage. Substation will be equipped with an additional transformer and equipment required to serve the new 25 kV overhead electric south power loop.
In June 2025, Consent Agenda Item No. 25C-34 authorized final engineering design fees to FCEC for the substation expansion and the 25kV overhead electric south power loop.
PROJECT PURPOSE
• FCEC will provide an electrical service of 25kV to the Leonard Water Treatment Plant (WTP) south parcel for future planned plant expansions.
PROJECT COMPONENTS
• The scope of the agreement with FCEC includes procurement and construction engineering services performed by FCEC:
1) Construct overhead circuits and expand the substation to provide permanent power needs to the Leonard Water Treatment Plant south parcel and the High Service Pump Station South. The permanent power system is designed to carry the ultimate load required by the plant at the buildout capacity of 280 MGD.
o Control Enclosure - Modification to support the transformer, circuit switcher, and circuit breaker additions. Provide a new relay panel for the new transformer and circuit switcher.
o AC/DC Power System - Modification to alternating current and direct current (AC and DC) panel schedules for the proposed equipment additions.
o Relay Panels - Connections for the new relay panels and relay panel modifications as shown in the wiring diagrams and detail.
o Transformer - Install additional transformer in the substation and provide connection for new circuits and current transformer connections.
o Distribution Feeders - Construct interconnection of two new overhead distribution feeders.
o Circuit Schedule - Procure circuits and install circuit routing for the proposed equipment as shown in contract documents.
o Grounding - Grounding improvements will be limited to connection of new equipment to the existing ground grid.
2) Oversee construction of electrical facilities, including transformer connections and distribution lines to provide service to NTMWD facilities.
3) Manage project contract, scope, schedule, cost and payment application.
4) Facilitate equipment testing, startup, commissioning, and project closeout.
5) Provide record drawings to NTMWD as deemed necessary.
6) Upon completion, FCEC and NTMWD will conduct final accounting of all project costs, and all unused funds will be returned to NTMWD. Similarly, if the actual cost is higher than the estimated cost advanced to FCEC by NTMWD, FCEC will issue an invoice to NTMWD for the unpaid actual cost following a change order action.
• The budget estimate for this project was $17,339,000.
CONSTRUCTION COST AND SERVICE FEE
DESCRIPTION COST
Substation transformer addition OPCC $3,920,385
25kV overhead distribution loop construction OPCC $4,092,312
FCEC project management fee $400,635
Total $8,413,332
FUNDING
Funding in the amount of $8,413,332 to Fannin County Electric Cooperative is to be made available utilizing the Regional Water System Extendable Commercial Paper (ECP) Program as the appropriation source; issuance of ECP notes will occur as cash needs arise.