City authorizes emergency purchase of powdered activated carbon for Lake Rockwell water treatment

The public service committee recommended an emergency procurement to buy 250 tons of powdered activated carbon for the Lake Rockwell water treatment process to mitigate recent taste and odor problems in the raw water source.

Service staff said unusually dry conditions followed by heavy rains increased watershed turnover this year, raising the need for activated carbon in the pretreatment stage. Director Chris Ludlow explained the product is used in the raw‑water process before filtration and noted there is no practical shelf life on the powdered activated carbon the city purchases; the purchase will ensure supplies through the remainder of the year and into 2026.

The committee moved to suspend the rules and advance the emergency purchase without formal competitive bidding. Staff said the purchase is intended to protect finished‑water quality and reduce the need for other coagulants in the raw‑water treatment process.