HomeMy WebLinkAbout16. Sanitary Sewer Master Plan
AGENDA MEMO
DATE:
April 12, 2011
TO:
Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Office of the City Manager
By: John Oskoui, P.E., Director of Public Works
SUBJECT:SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN STATUS REPORT
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council receive and file the following status report on the City’s Sanitary
Sewer System Management Plan.
BACKGROUND
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) previously adopted Order No.
2006-0003 (Sanitary Sewer Order), a General Waste Discharge Requirement (WDR) for
Sanitary Sewer Systems. The goal of the Sanitary Sewer Order is to provide a
consistent statewide approach for reducing Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs). In
response, the City Council approved and adopted the City’s Sanitary Sewer Master
Plan (Master Plan) and subparts thereof including the City’s Sewer System
Management Plan (SSMP) as required by the Sanitary Sewer Order.
At the time of approval/adoption of the Master Plan, the City’s sewer rate had not been
increased since 1997 and the City had been operating the system at a deficit and
relying on annual transfers of funds from other sources to make up the deficit between
the revenue the sewer rates were generating and the operation and maintenance
(O&M) and capital improvement program (CIP) expenses. In order to eliminate this
deficit, establish a self-supporting Sanitary Sewer Fund, and implement the O&M and
CIP improvements identified in the Master Plan, new sewer rates were implemented in
June of 2010.
DISCUSSION
The primary focus of the Master Plan implementation has been establishing a more
proactive approach to O&M of the City’s 200 miles of sewer pipe and associated
facilities that are aging and in need of increased maintenance, rehabilitation, and
replacement to ensure reliable sanitary sewer service into the future. The goal for the
first year of implementation of this program was to reduce the frequency of SSOs.
The following is a summary of the improvements implemented since approval/adoption
of the Master Plan, SSMP, and sewer rates.
Implemented system-wide sewer cleaning program; currently ahead of schedule;
approximately 9 miles/month (2 year frequency versus 3 year plan).
Video inspection of 15 suspect areas; Ongoing inspection of such areas in
coordination with system-wide cleaning.
CITY OF DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA
Mayor and Members of the City Council
Sanitary Sewer System Management Plan Status Report
April 12, 2011
Page 2
Implemented an expanded chemical root control program from an as-needed
basis to approximately 1 mile of impacted pipe.
Results of system-wide cleaning and increased root control apparent in number
of SSOs since implementation; only 1 SSO for 2011 versus 9 total for 2010.
Sewer lift station replacement project design; Construction planned for Fiscal
Year (FY) 11/12.
Miscellaneous urgent spot repairs.
Purchased trailer-mounted jetter and nozzles and small back-up vacuum trailer
for cleaning sewers.
Reviewing sewer maintenance/management software for purchase and
implementation.
Key spot repairs and sewer rehabilitation under design.
Increased dedicated sanitation maintenance employees.
Sanitation workers attended training on proper use and maintenance (rebuilding
nozzles) of jetting equipment and various nozzles.
Miscellaneous manhole repairs.
Hot spot cleaning of suspect areas.
In process of expanding nighttime flushing on major streets to minimize public
impacts.
Locating manholes in hard to reach backyard easement areas for later
implementation of flushing in these areas.
Insecticide application at 1,000 manholes.
So far the City has achieved the goal of minimizing SSOs through a more proactive
mode of O&M as provided above and as evidenced by the reduction in SSO frequency
from 9 SSOs in 2010 to currently only (one) 1 SSO in 2011. In order to accomplish this
goal, annual capital improvement projects and their associated costs in the Master Plan
have been adjusted by placing focus on the most critical infrastructure.
Additionally, during FY 10/11, design of a much needed lift station replacement project
was completed with construction of the project planned for FY 11/12. During the next
three to four fiscal years, an emphasis will be placed on completing other crucial capital
project related activities such as system-wide video inspection and rehabilitation of
sewer lines.
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