Miramar plans $1 million emergency water and sewer repair contracts. Here’s why
To respond faster to water main breaks and sewer failures across the city, Miramar commissioners will be asked on Wednesday to approve contracts with three companies that would provide emergency repair work.
The cost to Miramar taxpayers: $1 million a year.
Under a proposal scheduled to be presented to the full commission on April 1, Miramar would hire three outside contractors — Cacique Utilities, Plumber Mike’s Inc. and Foster Marine Contractors Inc. — to provide emergency water and sewer repair services on an as-needed basis.
The contracts would run for two years with three optional one-year renewals.
City officials say the arrangement is necessary because Miramar’s utilities system is enormous — and not every emergency can be handled by city crews alone.
“From time to time, emergency conditions arise that require specialized equipment, services and expertise beyond the City’s in-house capabilities to ensure compliance with safety regulations and operational standards,” according to the memo to be presented by Utilities Director Francois Domond.
The city maintains about 470 miles of water mains ranging from 6 to 30 inches in diameter, along with 8,772 water valves, 82 miles of sewer force mains, 275 miles of gravity sewer mains and 6,869 manholes.
“The city utilizes these specialized contractual services on an as-needed basis to ensure continuous service to residents,” the memo states.
The previous contract for emergency repairs has expired, prompting the city to seek new bids. Miramar advertised the project in November and received six bids by the Dec. 11 deadline, according to the procurement department.
After reviewing the proposals, officials determined that Cacique Utilities, Plumber Mike’s and Foster Marine Contractors were the lowest responsive and responsible bidders.
The contracts would not guarantee the companies work every year. Instead, they would be called only when needed — typically during urgent repairs such as major water main breaks or sewer failures that require heavy equipment or rapid response.
Funding for the work has been set aside in the city’s 2026 utilities budget contingency account.
For residents, the decision is less about paperwork and more about preparation.
City leaders say lining up contractors ahead of time is meant to ensure that when those emergencies occur, the city can respond quickly — before a bad situation gets worse.
