CTUB Request for Sealed Bids

The Charles Town Utility Board is accepting sealed bids from individuals interested in purchasing the following items; 2011 Ford F150 102,813 miles – VIN 1FTMF1EM9BKD33855; 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 150,887 miles – VIN 1GBHK24U97E101819; 2018 Dodge Utility Truck Bed; and a 2003 Top Brand Trailer – VIN 5HLTF20204F034737.  Photos are available by clicking the link below.  Questions and inquiries should be emailed to Ashley Stottlemyer at astottlemyer@ctubwv.com.   All items are sold as is. Cash or certified checks accepted.  Sealed bids shall clearly indicate the item being bid and total bid amount.  Sealed bids must be received by 4:00 p.m. on April 5, 2024.   Charles Town Utility Board reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

Email sealed bids to astottlemyer@ctubwv.com or mail to:
Charles Town Utility Board
Attn:  Ashley Stottlemyer
661 S. George Street, Suite 101
Charles Town, WV 25414

Bid for Construction Project – Greenfield Force Main Upgrade

ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS

Charles Town Utility Board
661 South George Street
Charles Town, WV   25414

Separate sealed BIDS for the construction of the Charles Town Utility Board, Greenfield Force Main Upgrade, Samuel Street Pump Station Flow Meter Installation will be received by the Charles Town Utility Board, 661 South George Street, Charles Town, WV until 11:00 a.m., Thursday, October 26, 2023.  Sealed bids can be hand delivered to the Charles Town Utility Board, Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.  A pre‑bid conference will be held at 661 South George Street, Charles Town, WV at 2:00 p.m., on Thursday, October 12th, 2023. Representatives of the Owner and Engineer will be present to discuss the project. Bidders are encouraged to attend and participate in the conference. 

Bids are for furnishing all labor, materials, equipment, and performance of work for the project consisting of upgrading Greenfield force main from a 4” to a 6” and installing a flow meter at the Samuel Street Pump Station, and other work necessary to complete the project as more fully shown in the Plans and Specifications prepared by Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP.

All BIDS shall remain open for ninety (90) days.

The CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be examined at the following locations:

Charles Town Utility Board                                                                
661 South George Street                                                                   
Charles Town, WV  25414                                                                   

Dodge Data and Analytics
2860 S State Hwy 161, Suite 160 #501
Grand Prairie, TX   75052-7361

RK&K, LLP                                                                                           
159 Plaza Drive                                                                                   
Keyser, WV  26726  

Altoona Builders Exchange  
1927 Union Avenue                                                                
Altoona, PA 16601                         

Contractors Association of West Virginia                               
2114 Kanawha Blvd., East                                                                    
Charleston, WV 25311       

Construct Connect           
30 Technology Parkway, Suite 100                                               
Norcross, GA 30092

Construction Employers Association                         
2611 Fairmont Avenue                                                   
Fairmont, WV   26554      

Pennsylvania Builders Exchange   
1813 N. Franklin Street                                       
Pittsburgh, PA   15233

Prospective bidders will be required to use the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS as supplied by the Engineer.  Copies of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS containing Contract can be obtained from the office of the Engineer, Rummel, Klepper & Kahl, LLP, 159 Plaza Drive, Keyser, WV  26726, Phone (304) 788‑3370, upon a non-refundable payment of $250.00 plus shipping charges, if any.

All contractors must purchase Plans, Specifications, and Bid Forms from the Engineer in order to bid.

A five percent (5%) Bid Bond or certified cashier’s check must accompany all Bids.

Prospective Bidders are advised that the contract awarded under this Advertisement for Bids is to be funded by the Charles Town Utility Board. 

Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order No. 11246, which prohibit discrimination in employment regarding race, creed, color, sex, or national origin.

Bidders must comply with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Anti‑Kickback Act and the Contract Work Hours Standards Act.

There are no mandatory wage rates for this project.

The Charles Town Utility Board reserves the right to waive any informality in the Bid and to reject any or all Bids.

Date: October 4, 2023
Charles Town Utility Board

Project Engineer
RK&K, LLP
159 Plaza Drive
Keyser, WV 26726

Hydrant Maintenance and Line Flushing

On a biannual basis, the Charles Town Utility Board opens fire hydrants to flush water lines of accumulated sediments that can cause discoloration in customers’ homes and other buildings.  At each stop, a staff member will open a hydrant and take samples to measure water quality as well.  To flush the lines, water system workers systematically open fire hydrants and let the water flow at full force until water appears to clear. 

The purpose of the flushing program is to provide a safe high quality water supply to the customers of the Charles Town Utility Board.  Debris can enter and accumulate in a water distribution system.  Disinfectant residuals can deplete due to low usage and disinfectants may combine with materials in the system to form undesirable byproducts.

Flushing the water system on a regular basis removes sediment from lines and keeps the entire distribution system refreshed.  CTUB maintains over 80 miles of water lines throughout its service area. 

Even though the overall goal of the flushing is to reduce sediment in water lines, customers in or near a section of the city that is being flushed may temporarily experience heightened discoloration in their water.  This does not indicate that the water is unsafe to drink, cook with, or bathe in, but it would be advisable to avoid doing laundry until the discoloration of the water is eliminated. 

Customers experiencing cloudy or discolored water can try leaving taps open in a bathtub or sink for 20 minutes.  It is important not to run hot water, however, as that would fill the building’s water heater with water that contains sediments. 

You will be able to recognize our employees by a number of identifiers:

  • CTUB employees will be driving vehicles with the CTUB logo
  • CTUB employees will be wearing uniforms with the CTUB logo

If you have any questions or concerns about flushing or the crews in your area, please contact our Customers Service staff at (304) 725-2316 and they will be happy to assist you. 

CTUB uses the Spirit of Jefferson newspaper as well as its own website to announce hydrant flushing before it occurs.  Customers can sign up for website notifications at www.ctubwv.com

Frequently Asked Questions:

What’s that taste?

During Spring flushing, some customers may notice a more pronounced chlorine taste or odor in the water. Filling a pitcher with water and placing it in the refrigerator will help to alleviate the chlorine taste.

Why does my water have a “milky” or “bubbly” appearance during flushing?

This is simply a result of the oxygen in the water being stirred up during flushing causing visible air bubbles. Letting the water sit in a glass for a few seconds will take care of the air bubbles. 

Why is my water discolored?

Flushing may result in a temporary discoloration and the presence of sediment in your water.  These conditions are not harmful and should be of very short duration.  If noticed, avoid doing laundry during this time (while crews are on your street or in your immediate area) to avoid discoloration.  If water remains discolored or cloudy for an extended timeframe contact CTUB at (304) 725-2316. 

Will my water pressure be affected? 

Some customers may notice slight pressure fluctuations when our crews are working in their area.  Pressures will return to normal once the flushing has finished. 

Water Fluoridation Quality Award

The Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention awarded the Charles Town Utility Board Water Department with a Water Fluoridation Quality Award for providing high-quality water fluoridation for 12 consecutive months in 2021, representing a high level of operator care and accomplishment. We commend the dedication and determination of our staff on being awarded this achievement.

WV Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program

West Virginia DHHR is offering a new program available to low-income households. The West Virginia Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) will offer assistance to eligible households with services that have been disconnected or are pending disconnection. These eligible households may receive up to $1,000 when water and sewage is included in the same bill, or $500 towards the payment of each of their water and sewage bills when services are billed separately. Eligible households seeking assistance that have current bills with no past due balance may receive up to $500 when their water and sewage is included in the same bill, or $250 towards the payment of each when the services are billed separately. Payments will be paid by voucher. A one-time payment is made during a fiscal year period and the payment cannot create a credit balance. LIHWAP will be available until September 30, 2023.

For more information on the program, click here.

Fats, Oil and Grease

Overflows and sewer backups are commonly caused by fats, oils and grease (FOG). FOG gets into the sewer from household drains and neglected grease interceptors at businesses and restaurants. The FOG blocks sewer pipes, causing health hazards and leading to expensive fixes.

Using the garbage disposal does not alleviate FOG from entering your drain and sticking to the sides of pipes leading from the house to the street. Likewise, the dishwasher only cleans dishes, it does not remove grease. Running hot water down the sink with grease only pushes the grease further down the pipes which compounds the problem.

Please keep the following out of your drains and dishwasher:
• Butter
• Shortening
• Peanut Butter
• Meat Trimmings
• Vegetable, Canola or Olive oil or cooking oils
• Bacon or Sausage fat
• Gravy
• Mayonnaise

All of the above should be poured into a heat-resistant or other appropriate container and disposed of after cooling in the garbage, not poured down the drain.

Help protect your household and utility system pipes by keeping Fats, Rags, Oils and Grease out of the sewer system.

REMEMBER TO CALL THE CHARLES TOWN UTILITY BOARD IMMEDIATELY at (304) 725-2316 if you notice odors, roots, blockages or overflows. CTUB staff will assist and check the public sewer main and your lateral if a clean-out is available. If the problem is not in the City main, we will advise you to contact a plumber or sewer/drain cleaning service.

Cold Weather Preparation

Is your home ready for the cold? It doesn’t take long for meters and pipes to freeze during cold temperatures, especially below 32 degrees. If your pipes or meter freeze, you will not have water. With colder temps, it is important to protect your pipes as much as possible.

Here are some helpful tips:

When Temperatures Dip, let it Drip!
To keep water flowing through the pipes in your home, let one cold water faucet run at a pencil size stream. To re-use, place a jug underneath to catch the drips and use it to water indoor
plants. The amount of water used for this purpose costs significantly less than it would cost to fix the damage from a frozen pipe or replace a meter.

Insulate your Pipes
Insulate your pipes in unheated spaces like the garage and under cabinets along outside walls. Pipe insultation is relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at any home improvements or hardware store.

Set the Thermostat
Whether you’re at home or away traveling, set your thermostat no lower than 55 degrees. Travelers will often make the mistake of turning thermostats off thinking it will save on heating bills, when in reality frozen pipes and damage to personal property could result.

Water Operator of the Year Award

At a recent employee picnic of the Charles Town Utility Board, Chief Water Operator, Chris Hutzler, received a prestigious award presented by the West Virginia Section of the American Water Works Association. Chris had the honor of receiving the 2021 Perkins Boynton Award for Large Systems in recognition of outstanding water treatment plant operator performance. With over 25 years of water treatment experience, Chris is a great asset to the Charles Town Utility Board.

Pictured here is CTUB employee, Chris Hutzler and the Mayor of Charles Town, Bob Trainor.