W210 Private Service Laterals: What To Do, When, Why, How, and With What?

Transcription

1 W210 Private Service Laterals: What To Do, When, Why, How, and With What? Sunday, October 3 8:30 am 5:00 pm Overview: This workshop will provide the audience with the most up-to-date information on addressing sewer backups and backflows (surcharging) into buildings. Speakers will share success stories related to reducing the risk of backups and backflows resulting in property damages and proactive measures that can be taken to prevent occurrences. The attendees will learn about effective programs under way across North America related to sanitary sewer lateral repair, replacement, and operations and maintenance issues. Detailed Description: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) estimates that between 23,000 and 75,000 sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) events occur per year in the U.S. (excluding basement backups) (US EPA, 2004). Regulatory authorities are increasingly requiring wastewater utilities to eliminate such overflow events, including clarifying requirements for proper operation and maintenance of the collection system. Although the SSO reduction efforts are primarily focused on public sewer systems, EPA recognizes that the privately owned portions of the sewer systems have the potential to contribute significantly to the number of overflow events. One approach to eliminating SSOs is to reduce the entry of inflow and infiltration (I/I) into the sewer system. If removing public I/I sources alone is not enough, wastewater utilities are faced with the dilemma of constructing large storage structures or going onto private property to remove private I/I sources, which include broken or leaker sewer laterals and directly connected downspouts, foundation drains, sump pumps, and area drains. In some cities, it is estimated that as much as 60% of the flow that overfills their sanitary sewers comes from service connections (US EPA, 1996). There are many roadblocks that prevent utilities from implementing sanitary sewer lateral-related programs. Many communities don t know where to begin. Often it is difficult working on private property because of legal constraints, as well as easement issues and ownership uncertainties. Funding the program is another common challenge because of limited funds to undertake repairs and the ability to spend public money on private property. Additionally, it can be difficult to gain stakeholder support to initiate programs. The purpose of this workshop is to provide a comprehensive overview of dealing with private sewer laterals: what to do, when, why, how, and with what (resources). Topics that will be discussed include the importance of defining ownership and maintenance/repair responsibilities, how to prevent backups and what to do when they occur. The proposed workshop is divided into three sections. The morning session will feature speakers who will address sewer backflows (surcharging) and backups into buildings. The speakers will discuss events that prompted the development of programs to reduce the risk of backflows and backups resulting in property damages. The second session will cover examples of successful lateral repair and replacement mechanisms. The final session will include an overview of the current regulatory climate regarding backups and sanitary sewer overflows that occur on private property, as well as a successful public involvement initiative case study.

2 Workshop speakers were selected based on their years of experience developing and implementing successful sanitary sewer lateral initiatives that address a wide spectrum of issues. Workshop attendees will be given copies of the speakers s and examples of programmatic materials in a handbook. Who Should Attend: Utility personnel, private (satellite) collection system owners, developers, regulators, and consultants involved in the management, planning, design, and operations and maintenance (O&M) of sanitary sewer laterals. Learning Objectives: By the end of this workshop, attendees will have engaged in an exchange of international approaches and successful solutions and will leave with several key areas of increased knowledge. These key areas include, but are not limited to the following: 1. Preventing sewer backflow conditions that result in sanitary sewer overflows and sewer backups into buildings 2. Implementing effective O&M practices for responding to sewer backups and backflow conditions 3. Ensuring proper sewer lateral construction, inspection, and repair/replacement on privately owned property through legal authorities 4. Leveraging various funding mechanisms to implement sanitary lateral repair/replacement and backflow prevention programs 5. Engaging the public to assist in managing risk of backups and backflows Workshop attendees will receive a handbook that includes PowerPoint handouts, example sewer use ordinances, specifications and standard drawings, checklists, public outreach examples, and other relevant materials. Workshop Faculty: Chair: Laurie Chase, Blue Heron Engineering Services Co-Chairs: Jaime Davidson, Wendel Duchscherer Architects and Engineers Bill Carter, GBA Speakers: Laurie Chase, Blue Heron Engineering Services Jaime Davidson, Wendel Duchscherer Architects and Engineers John Hodgson, City of Edmonton, Alberta Aaron Witt, Johnson County Wastewater, Kansas Tim Ramey, Johnson County Wastewater, Kansas James Shelton, Malcolm Pirnie Dave Hofer, New Castle County, Delaware Heather Nixon Stevenson, McGuire Woods, LLP Stephane D Aoust, Stantec, Ottawa, Ontario I. GREETINGS AND INTRODUCTIONS Workshop Agenda 8:30 am 5 minutes Laurie Chase, Columbus, Ohio, Moderator 8:35 am 10 minute /5 minute A. Definition and Overview Jaime Davidson, Wendel Duchscherer, Amherst, New York The speaker will define private sewer laterals in context to workshop discussions and briefly identify the problems associated with construction, inspection, defects, repair/replacement, and backflow/backups.

3 II. BACKFLOWS AND BACKUPS 8:50 am 25 minute 9:25 am 25 minute 10:00 am 30 minutes Break III. A. Responding to Backup and Backflow Conditions John Hodgson, City of Edmonton, Alberta Severe rainstorms in early July 2004 caused flooding on streets, roadways and in more than 4,000 homes throughout Edmonton. Damage to public and private property was extensive. This will focus on how the City responded to the flooding and the flood prevention strategies that are now underway. The workshop handout book will include a copy of Edmonton s flood prevention, flood proofing and public education programs related documents. B. Preventing Backups and Backflows LATERAL REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT PROGRAMS 10:30 am 45 minute /15 minute Aaron Witt/Tim Ramey, Johnson County Wastewater, Kansas On October 4, 1998, a 100+ year storm event caused extensive basement flooding resulting in extensive damage to many Johnson County Wastewater (JCW) homes and businesses. Throughout the past decade, JCW has continued a successful partnership that helps to protect properties from sewer backups. This will provide an overview of JCW s Back Up Prevention Program that provides funding to eligible homeowners to install a backup prevention device or make plumbing modifications. The workshop handout book will include documents related to the Johnson County s Backup Prevention Program. C. Comprehensive Private Lateral and Private Clearwater Program James Shelton, Malcolm Pirnie, Wilmington, Delaware As part of efforts to achieve a 35% reduction in peak wet weather flows, New Castle County has developed a highly successful private side sewerage rehabilitation program that addresses two distinct issues: private laterals and private clearwater sources (sump pumps, roof drains and punctured floor drains). This will include lessons learned while implementing the private lateral program and the process the County undertook to develop the recently implemented private Clearwater program. A discussion on how the expenditure of public funds on private assets was adjudged a benefit to the community, as well as how the program was evaluated for financial, political and technical soundness. The workshop handout book will include the county s sewer use ordinance, sewer lateral rehabilitation design standards and construction specifications and various rehabilitation/replacement

4 11:30 pm 5 minute collaborative exercise explanation; 25 minute table top discussion and issue development program documents. D. Interactive Session 12:00 pm 90 minutes Lunch Break IV. REDUCING RISK 1:30 pm 20 minute Jaime Davidson, Facilitator Each group of attendees will be asked to summarize the key take away points or issues that were presented by the previous speakers. The attendees will be asked to develop a list of issues that may arise during the implementation of the recommendations or ideas into their utilities programs. If time permits, strategies of how to address these issues will be summarized. E. Legal Issues Heather Stevenson, McGuire Woods, LLP, Richmond, Virginia This will provide a legal perspective on general legal foundations that public entities can use to control the construction, use, and repair of private sewer laterals. The general legal foundation is applicable across states, with legal requirements within each state having varying format and specific legal nuances. This will be carefully coordinated with the presenters to avoid overlapping materials, while pointing out potential differences in legal issues between the various states. The workshop handout book will include sample sewer use ordinances. 2:00 pm 20 minute F. Pulling it All Together to Create Effective, Innovative Solutions Stephane D Aoust, Stantec, Ottawa, Ontario On September 9, 2004, Hurricane Francis caused flooding on streets and in nearly 1,800 homes throughout the City, causing extensive damage. As a result, Ottawa s City Council asked staff to prepare an Emergency Response Plan to help residents affected by major sanitary sewer backups and basement floods. This will provide an overview of an investigation to determine the cause of the flooding, emergency response efforts, and measures underway to solve flooding problem in a specific part of the City. The workshop handout book will include a copy of Ottawa s Residential Sewer Back Up Resource Kit, Residential Protective Plumbing Grant Assistance Program and example public outreach materials.

5 2:30 pm 30 minutes G. Group Presentation of Interactive Session Results 3:00 pm 30 minutes Break 3:30 pm 60 minute discussion IV. CLOSING DISCUSSIONS Laurie Chase, Moderator Table moderators will facilitate the consolidation of key take away recommendations, issues of implementation into their organizations, and possible strategies on how to deal with issues. H. Panel Discussion 4:30 pm 30 minutes Open Forum & Closing Discussion 5:00pm All speakers and workshop attendees will be encouraged to exchange ideas and share experiences related the topics presented during the workshop. Notes will be taken during the panel discussion, summarized and researched following the workshop. Related resources will be gathered and made available on the Private Property Virtual Library. Workshop Dismissed