TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

City To Hire Contractor To Maintain Hydrants

ADVERTISEMENT

By ELLEN GEDALIUS, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 27, 2008

Updated: 01/26/2008 11:23 pm

TAMPA - By next month, the city plans to hire a contractor to maintain its nearly 13,000 fire hydrants.

The work has been done by in-house Tampa Water Department workers for as long as anyone can remember. But as the city's infrastructure has aged, water department workers have not been able to keep up with the required inspections and maintenance of hydrants, said Brad Baird, the department's director.

A Tribune analysis last year found the department woefully behind: Eighty-six percent of hydrants had not been inspected in the past year, despite a state law requiring annual inspections.

Now the city plans to award a contract to DMD Consultants of Palm Beach Gardens. The company bid $692,000 to do the work.

The city received seven bids ranging from $609,000 to more than $1.3 million. The lowest bidder did not have adequate experience so the second-lowest bidder was selected, said Greg Spearman, director of the city's purchasing department.
City administrators hope to take their recommendation to the city council Feb. 7. Pending council approval, the contractor would start work later in the month.

Baird said the water department likely will spot-check about 10 percent of the hydrants to ensure the contractor's work is solid.

Last year, Hillsborough County fired the company that inspected its hydrants. A hydrant failed in the Northdale area though it recently had been inspected. The county then started inspecting hydrants on its own while a new contractor was sought.

Three companies have bid on the inspections work. The bids are under evaluation, and the county hopes to award the contract in the next few weeks, said Pam Greene, a county water department official.

The county also has hired an engineering firm to spot-check the hydrant company's inspections. In addition, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue employees will check about 10 percent of the county's hydrants as an additional safeguard, Greene said.

Reporter Ellen Gedalius can be reached at (813) 259-7679.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT