Transcript Riverside Drive Public Meeting Proposed Sewer Construction

Riverside Drive Public Meeting
Proposed Sewer Construction
May 13, 2015
Tiverton Wastewater District (TWWD)
“Our mission is to safeguard public health and protect and improve ground and surface water
resources by implementing effective and efficient wastewater management and disposal within
the Tiverton Wastewater District.” – TWWD
Meeting Schedule - Rules
• TWWD Presentation
• Question and Answer Period
– Priority to Residents of Proposed Construction Area
(Everyone will have an opportunity to speak)
– Comments limited to 3 minutes
– Please allow everyone to speak once before raising a
second point.
“Who are you guys and what’s in it for you?”
• TWWD
– Quasi-Public Agency created by the General Assembly.
– Created, in part, to allow access to funding to help offset the cost
of sewer construction.
(The Town is does not qualify for this funding)
– Separate and distinct entity from the Town
Our People, Your Neighbors
Volunteer Board
Leroy Kendricks, Chairman
Chris Nearpass,
Paul Northrup
Colleen Stanton
Scott Humphrey
3 Part-Time Staff
Lisa Andromalos
Sarah Stearns
Nan Godet
Why are we here?
• A little bit of history
• Facilities Plan Update
• RI Cesspool Act of 2007
– Requires all properties within 200 feet of the
shoreline and other critical resources to
replace all cesspools by January 1, 2014.
The Issues
• Stormwater II and RIDEM TMDL Study (2011)
– Found two outfalls along the Tiverton shoreline are
contaminated with fecal bacteria commonly
associated with failed septic systems.
– “The Town must commit to… construction of
sewers for these problem areas.”
• Failed/Outdated Systems
– older systems
– non-conforming
• Environment
How Is Wastewater Treated?
Cesspools
Cesspool
• Non-Compliant
• Effluent flows directly into
groundwater.
• Fecal bacteria contaminate
local water resources
Different Types of Septic Systems
• Typical Septic System Installation
– Uncommon, only 16% of land in Tiverton would qualify
• Poor Soils & Low Groundwater Table
– Common scenario in project area
• Poor Soils & High Groundwater Table
– Common scenario in project area
• Advance Treatment
– Common scenario in project area
• Advance Treatment on Difficult Site
– Uncommon, but more likely along waterfront area
Septic Systems
Septic System
• New systems compliant
• Code-compliant systems often costly
• Cost varies by location, soil type, septic system
• Must replace at 25 years
What Is TWWD Proposing?
Sewer
Sewer System
• Code Compliant
• Cost Effective
• Effective/Efficient wastewater management
• Public grants decrease cost
• Does not contaminate surface or ground water resources
• Maintained by TWWD
• Little disruption to property
Riverside Drive Project
Area
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Bluff Avenue
Bowen Avenue
Poplar Drive
Quaker Avenue
Riverside Drive
Sunderland Heights
Tucker Avenue
(S. of 24)
TWWD Proposal for
Riverside Drive Area
• Infrastructure Plan
– 104 properties
– 27 additional vacant lots
• Public/Private work
– Project Covers Public & Private Work
– Construction on/under streets
– Construction on property
• Low Pressure Sewer
– Grinder pump.
Riverside Grinder Pump
• What is it?
• Who maintains it?
• What is the homeowner’s responsibility
regarding the grinder pump?
What does this mean for your property?
• Public construction
– Roads will be repaved curb to curb
• Private work
– Easement
• Everything back where it was/the way it was
• Above ground change for grinder pump
– Small cover to allow maintenance access
– Small alert box attached to the home
What’s This Going To Cost?
Cost
One Time Construction Costs
•
Betterment Assessment Not To Exceed $18,000
– amortized over 40 years ($68.00/month)
Ongoing Usage Costs for Residential Customers
•
Annual Operations, Maintenance and Administrative Fee
– $150 annually ($12.50/per month)
•
Estimated Sewer Usage Fee
– Rate: $6.66/HCF (As of 7/1/15), Avg. Cost: $57.00/month
•
Estimated Grinder Pump Electricity
– $24.00 annually ($2.00/month)
Monthly Construction Assessment
$68.00
Estimated Average Usage Cost
+ $71.50
Total (est.) Monthly Assessment & Usage Cost
= $139.50
Additional Cost Info.
Property Owners Who Choose Not to Tie In
– Still have to pay the the “Public Only” financial responsibility: $13,000 of
the not-to-exceed $18,000 project cost. This results in a monthly cost of
$49.00 when amortized over 40 years.
Residents will lose certain benefits if they choose not to tie in at the time of the
main construction project and need to tie in at a later point in time. Specifically:
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They will no longer have access to the grant currently available for private work tie in
•
They will not be able to finance private work tie in costs through the current 40 year
amortization schedule and will be responsible for finding their own financing solution
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The district will not own or maintain any grinder pump that is installed after the project
period has closed. Residents tying in after the project period has closed will be
responsible for installation, service and maintenance of their grinder pump.
Timeline
• Surveying and Subsurface Investigations
– July 2015 – January 2016
• Design and Permitting
– November 2015 – August 2016
• Bidding and Contract Award
– August 2016 – October 2016
• Construction
– December 2016 – September 2017
Voting Process
Timeline
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Ballots will be mailed on May 29;
Are due back on June 12;
Will be counted on June 15.
Results will be announced June 15.
Eligibility
• Voters must own a property within the proposed project area
• One vote per property
Voting Process: Sample Ballot
OFFICIAL BALLOT
****SAMPLE****
Question:
Tiverton Wastewater District shall extend sewer service to the Riverside Drive
Neighborhood, whose boundaries are the Mt. Hope Bay Interceptor up through Poplar
Drive, Riverside Drive, Sunderland Heights, Quaker Road, Bowen Avenue, and portions of
Quaker Avenue west of Central Avenue and Tucker Avenue south of Route 24. The project
includes sewer infrastructure construction in the public right of way as well as the
necessary work on private property to complete the sewer tie-in. The project will be
funded through a USDA grant and loan package totaling $7.1 million. Properties within the
project area will be assessed a betterment fee upon completion of the project and/or
property tie-in not to exceed $18,000.
APPROVE
REJECT
RIVERSIDE
The Value of Sewers
• Less expensive than most other types of systems
– because of the grants that we have obtained from the USDA, especially for problem
areas near the water.
• Less disruptive to the property (less equipment protruding
through the soil).
– You can have your property look the way you want it to look without unsightly
equipment.
• TWWD will be responsible for the financing.
– No upfront cash is needed from the homeowner. Property owners pay a bill similar to
other utilities such as electric and telephone.
• It is best for the environment.
– Even the best on-site system still puts unwanted nutrients into the water body. Too
much nitrogen in the water body can cause an overgrowth of algae and other plants.
Over time, the plants will deplete the oxygen levels in the water which can trigger fish
kills and depletion of other aquatic life.
Value of Sewers
• Worry Free
– Homeowners are freed from responsibilities of owning, maintaining and
having to replace an on-site wastewater treatment system and from impacts
of their neighbor's system as well.
– It will be owned and maintained by the TWWD so there are no hassles to
the homeowner.
• Clean
– Sewer prevents fecal matter from getting into the water body from failed
systems. No one wants to fish, swim, or boat in water that has sewage in it.
– Treatment happens at the Fall River Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant
which discharges highly treated water back into the water body.
• Value
– Sewer provides greater flexibility for the use of your home providing fewer
restrictions when considering improvements such as adding a deck, a pool
or an addition.
– It may enhance the resale value of the property for some buyers.
IF Voters Reject Sewers
Riverside Drive (Current State of Systems)
• If the neighborhood votes against sewer installation,
and your property is deemed non-conforming by the
state or the town, you will have one year to take steps
to install a conforming system.
– All homes in the area must be inspected. Inspection paid by homeowner.
– For those systems that fail, homeowners have one year to have a system
engineered, financed, and installed
– Homeowners within 200 feet of the water that have cesspools, must replace their
system within 1 year per the RI Cesspool Act
“….the DEM will move to enforce all of our Rules and Regulations going forward should
sewers not go in or should residents not connect. Should the residents elect not to
construct sewers or connect, the Department will move immediately to enforce the
Rules and Regulations and require any failed system be replaced.”
- Brian Moore, P.E. (Chief, Groundwater and Wetlands Protection)
Q&A
• Question and Answer Period
– Priority to Residents of Proposed Construction Area
(Everyone will have an opportunity to speak)
– Comments limited to 3 minutes
– Please allow everyone to speak once before raising a
second point.
– Collect Questions
– Questions after tonight?
• www.twwd.org
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (401) 625-6701