Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of Columbus Water & Power to enter into an agreement with the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University, a non-profit corporation, for the continued operation of the water quality tributary load monitoring station on the Scioto River in Chillicothe.
This operation will be conducted in collaboration with the Division of Water Reclamation (DOWR) and includes intensive sampling, analysis of suspended sediments, and the calculation of the separate contributions of point-source and nonpoint-source loads of phosphorus and other pollutants in the Scioto River watershed upstream of the station.
The National Center for Water Quality Research, NCWQR, founded in 1969 by Dr. David B. Baker, is a research organization within the science departments of Heidelberg University in Tiffin, Ohio. The Heidelberg Tributary Loading Program (HTLP) began in 1974 and added the Scioto River monitoring station in Chillicothe in 1996. Presently there are 22 stations in the HTLP in Ohio and southeastern Michigan, which permit the calculation of pollutant loads from over 50% of Ohio’s land area. The NCWQR uses information from these stations to calculate the loads of nutrients, sediments, and pesticides delivered to Lake Erie and the Ohio River. The HTLP receives funding from a combination of state and federal agencies, foundations, industries, individuals through research grants, and contract or well test analyses. All of the resulting data, including those for the Scioto River Loading Station, are publicly available at the HTLP website.
Measurements of pollutant export from watersheds are used to compare the amount of pollutants derived from diffuse nonpoint sources, such as agricultural and urban storm runoff, with contributions from point sources, such as publicly owned wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities. The City of Columbus water reclamation treatment plants are the two largest point-source dischargers into the Scioto River watershed. Accordingly, collecting pollutant monitoring data in the Scioto River watershed to compare Columbus discharges with those from other pollutant sources is of significant interest to the City.
In operating the Chillicothe monitoring station, NCWQR will obtain the best available data on point-source loads to the Scioto River upstream of the monitoring station, compute the proportional contributions of point-source and nonpoint-source loads of total phosphorus and other pollutants of interest to DOWR. NCWQR will upload the data to the HTLP portal and coordinate with DOWR personnel to analyze dissolved organic carbon in a subset of samples collected at the Chillicothe station during both base flow and storm runoff events.
The first phase of this work was completed during calendar years 2014 through 2016, with a second phase running from calendar years 2017 through 2021. The work for the third phase of the agreement occurred during calendar years 2022 through 2026. This fourth phase of the agreement will occur during calendar years 2027 through 2031 and will continue as an annual ongoing contract.
The cost estimate for calendar year 2027 operations is an amount not-to-exceed $45,000.00. Funding requests for future years will be based upon budgeted funds and approval by City Council.
Principal Party:
Heidelberg University
310 E Market St.
Tiffin, OH 44883
John Wilkin, (419) 448-2227
Contract Compliance Number: 006982
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: 3/28/2027
Fiscal Impact: $45,000.00 is available from within the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund for this purchase.
$38,000.00 was spent in 2025
$42,000.00 was spent in 2024
Title
To authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to enter into an agreement with National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University for the continued operation of a tributary load monitoring station on the Scioto River in Chillicothe; and to authorize the expenditure of $45,000.00 from the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund. ($45,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus Water & Power wishes to enter into an agreement with National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University for the continued operation of a tributary load monitoring station on the Scioto River in Chillicothe; and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to authorize the expenditure of $45,000.00 from within the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund; and
WHEREAS, this is a continuation of a prior agreement, with phase one running from 2014 through 2016, phase two running from 2017 through 2021, and phase three running from 2022 through 2026. The work for the years 2027 through 2031 is considered the fourth phase and will continue as an annual ongoing contract; and
WHEREAS, this funding request is for 2027, and funding for this and any future years will be based upon budgeted funds and approval by City Council; and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of Columbus Water & Power, to authorize the Director of Columbus Water & Power to enter into an agreement with National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University for the phase four operation of the water quality tributary load monitoring station on the Scioto River in Chillicothe for 2027; AND NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Columbus Water & Power be and is hereby authorized to enter into an agreement with the National Center for Water Quality Research at Heidelberg University for the operation of the water quality tributary load monitoring station on the Scioto River in Chillicothe.
SECTION 2. That this contract is in accordance with the relevant provisions of Chapter 329 of the Columbus City Codes.
SECTION 3. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
SECTION 4. That the City Auditor is authorized to make any accounting changes to revise the funding source for all contracts or contract modifications associated with this ordinance.
SECTION 5. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $45,000.00, or so much thereof as may be needed, be and is hereby authorized in object class 03 Services, from within the Sanitary Sewer Operating Fund, per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.