By Jim Bloch
It two separate motions, the Port Huron City Council voted unanimously at its regular meeting Feb. 24 to spend $609,423 on chemicals for the city’s water filtration and wastewater treatment plants.
The total would have been higher, but Mayor Anita Ashford removed the purchase of aluminum sulfate from the agenda. If the council had accepted the quote of low-bidder Catalynt Solutions, of Edmonds, Washington, at $562 per dry ton, it would have added $241,660 to the final tab. The cost of the aluminum sulfate was $20 per dry ton cheaper than last year.
There was no discussion by council members regarding the purchases.
These purchases are “for the annual supply of chemicals for processes at the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Water Filtration Plant,” said City Manager James Freed in his memo to Mayor Ashford and the council about the purchases. “The WWTP utilizes 4 different chemicals, aluminum sulfate, sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, and hydrated lime throughout the wastewater treatment processes. Aluminum sulfate is a coagulant, or chemical used to make particles stick together so they bond and ‘fall out’ of the water. Its main function in wastewater is to aid in phosphorous removal.”
The council accepted the low bid of JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc., of Riverview, for the annual supply of liquid sodium hypochlorite for use at both plants at $1.68 per gallon and $343,560 overall. The Alexander Chemical Corporation of LaPorte, IN was the next lowest bidder at $1.859 per gallon or $380,166 total. Rowell Chemical, of Willow Springs, IL was high at $2.15 per gallon for a total of $439,675.
The liquid sodium hypochlorite was 20 cents per gallon cheaper than in 2024.
JCI Jones Chemicals, Inc. also submitted the low bid for the city’s annual purchase of sodium hydroxide for the sewer plant. JCI quoted $.1069 per wet lb. for a total of $28,863. Catalynt Solutions was next lowest at $.128 per wet lb. for an overall purchase price of $34,560. Rowell Chemical was next at $.19 per wet lb. for a total of $51,300. Alexander Chemical Corporation was high at $.214 per wet lb. or $57,780 overall.
The sodium hydroxide was a fraction of a cent less expensive than last year.
“Sodium hypochlorite is used as a disinfectant to kill harmful pathogens,” said Freed. “It is added prior to the wastewater being discharged to the (St. Clair) River. It is also used in odor control along with sodium hydroxide. The sodium hypochlorite and sodium hydroxide are added to the odor control towers prior to venting to the atmosphere… The water filtration plant uses only aluminum sulfate and sodium hypochlorite in the water filtration process. Aluminum sulfate is used to remove small particles from the raw water, assisting in clarification. Sodium hypochlorite is added to raw water as a disinfectant to kill harmful pathogens.”
The council awarded the annual contract for hydrated lime for the wastewater plant to sole bidder Carmeuse Lime (Canada) Limited, of Pittsburgh, PA at $495 per dry ton or $237,600 for the year.
The hydrated lime was $30 per ton more expensive than 2024.
“Hydrated lime is added to solid waste that is to be hauled for land applications,” Freed said. “The lime neutralizes acidic waste and raises the pH level,” said Freed. “The increased pH kills pathogenic bacteria that are present, making the sludge acceptable for land application.”
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
