Water & Sewer Committee

Sammy Rich, City Manager Mike Hackett, Director John Boyd, Assistant Director WATER AND SEWER DIVISION Customer Service Department Bryan Parris, Director Operations Department Brandon M. Cook, Director Water Reclamation Facilities Jeff Hill, Director Water Treatment Facilities Wayne Stanley, Director WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE MEETING City Hall, 601 Broad Street, Sam King Room Thursday, August 4, 2022 9:00 AM PRESENT: Chairperson Jim Bojo Commissioner Craig McDaniel Mr. Sammy Rich, City Manger Mrs. Meredith Ulmer, Assistant City Manager Mr. Mike Hackett, Division Director Mr. John Boyd, Assistant Division Director Mr. Bryan Parris, Customer Service Director Mr. Brandon Cook, Operations Director Mrs. Kelly Parker, Assistant to City Manager Mrs. Aundi Lesley, Downtown Development Director Mr. Doug Walker, VISITORS: Tom Couch, citizen CALL TO ORDER Chairperson Jim Bojo welcomed everyone and called the meeting to order. REVIEW OF THE MINUTES No changes to the May 5, 2022, minutes were suggested. The minutes were approved by common consent. Minutes prepared by: Bryan Parris, Customer Service Director Water and Sewer Committee/ Commission Minutes, August 4, 2022 Page 1 of 4 FINANCIAL REPORT In Mrs. Rhinehart’s absence Mr. Hackett provided the committee with the financial reports and pointed out the key figures show operating revenues up about 10% over this time last year and expenses year to date were up by about $150,000.00 but were in line with what we expected. Total cash was at 17.7 million compared to 18.3 million this time last year. OLD BUSINESS ARC PROJECT Mr. Cook gave an update on the ARC Project-River District water and sewer modifications. Cook showed the project concept would be replacing/installing approximately 5000 feet of 12-, 8-, and 6-inch water mains, fire lines for future development, various valves and approximately 1000 feet of sewer main and 6 to 8 manholes. Cook reported just over 3,200 feet of 12” had been installed, all water mains on W 3rd about 1450 feet were completed and most of the 12” on N 5th about 1800 feet. There was approximately 800 feet of 8” water main left to install on N 5th., connections to existing mains at 5th Ave bridge, Ave A, and N 5th Ave across Turner McCall Blvd and the sewer mains on N 5th, Bale St. and back ally between N 4th and W 3rd. Expectation for completion of water main installation to include all connections to existing mains – mid to late September. The project will then move to 4th. Ave alley to install sewer mains, Bale St sewer extension and finish N 5th after the first of the year, allowing for higher traffic volume expected during the Fall and Christmas shopping season at local businesses. Commission McDaniel asked if these upgrades would there be enough capacity for future development in the area? Cook responded, yes and for that reason the water main was increased to a 12”. Hackett added the original plan was to connect to the existing 12” in the middle of Turner McCall but it was decided to continue all the way across Turner McCall to better serve Ave B and A area. Chairman Bojo asked, with the TADs that are about to be put in place how more work will have to be done up Martha Berry? Hackett stated we would be going up Ave D to Iron which would cover area included. AMI PROJECT Mr. Parris explained the project consisted of replacing roughly 20,000 water meters system wide with just over 19,000 3/4” and 1” meters being replaced by Utility & Water Services (USW) contractors. In phase one, which began in July of 2021, contractors replace 3,021 meters. Parris state phase two began May 24th and the goal was to replace 5,000 meters in 90 to 120 days and as of August 3rd 3,049 had been changed for a total of 8,555 system wide. 6,070 were changed by contractors and 2,485 have been changed by the divisions staff. Parris reported there are roughly 10,400 ¾-inch meters, 460 1-inch meters and 580 2- inch or larger meters remaining to change at this time. Current cost of the project is $235,282.00 for contractor change out, $1,249,550.00 for meters and the projected remaining cost is $450,821.00 for change outs and $2,295,765.00 for the remaining ¾ and 1-inch meters. Minutes prepared by: Bryan Parris, Customer Service Director Water and Sewer Committee/ Commission Minutes, August 4, 2022 Page 2 of 4 LOW INCOME WATER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIWAP) Parris reported the program was going well and had not been as much of a burden as it could have been if State rules had been enforced as described. He reported in May the department received payments in the amount of $10,407.00 on behalf of 29 customers, June payments of $32,324.00 on behalf of 77 customers and July payments totaled $17,715.00 on behalf of 54 customers. Total funds received were $60,446.00 and benefited 160 customers. PFAS Mr. Hackett gave a PFAS 2022 Health Advisory Update. He stated in May of 2016 PFOA and PFOS health advisories dropped from 600 PPT to 70 PPT. June 15, 2022, the EPA established new health advisory limits as follows: PFOA= 0.004 PPT (Parts per Trillion) Interim Advisory PFOS= 0.02 PPT Interim Advisory Gen X = 10 PPT Final PFBS= 2000 PPT Final Hackett stated RWSD met with EPD for further explanation regarding the new limits, saying you cannot test to these limits so therefore legally you cannot make it a regulation only an advisory. EFD officials indicated RWSD is leading the way in Georgia in its response to PFAS and no actions other than those being taken by RWSD is required at this time. Hackett stated reverse osmosis design is progressing as well as litigation against Dalton defendants. Commissioner McDaniel asked if the EPA and EPD as diligent with the polluters of the water ways as they are with water service providers? Hackett stated he did not believe so but with the litigation we and others are pursing would likely change things soon. Hackett went on to say, “With all the PFAS pollution that the carpet manufactures up in Dalton have poured into our rivers for the past 25 years, we are all going to have to be tested. I just hope our new system can come online quickly to remove all these man made ‘forever’ chemicals from our water sources.” Chairperson Bojo asked if PFAS caused any damage to our water lines or cause any actual build up of these PFAS? Hackett said there was no evidence of any damages caused by PFAS to the water lines. New Business Enterprise Corner Mr. Hackett and Boyd explained this would be a water and sewer line extension along Highway 411 going towards Cartersville and the limitations of the development due to serviceable property establish in House Bill 489. Estimated cost for the extensions are, engineering and inspection $1,117,000.00 with water at $501,000.00 and sewer at $616,000. Construction estimates are $4.5 million for water and $6.7 million for sewer for a total of $11.2 million in construction. The total project being $12.3 million. Hackett explained the water and sewer project are very different and we must also include the type of development needed in this area to achieve our maximum ROI. He explained with the sewer extension we must consider the effect of hydrogen sulfide saying sewer will turn septic in as little as 2 hours. A force main of this length will turn septic in the main and will likely require a Sulfa Press system. In addition, given the topography this system may require as much as 6 air release valves which prevent air binding but are prone to H2S damage. Hackett said Package plants do have their place but industrial applications with high flows and high strength waste are not typically the best application. Beyond ten years these units can become maintenance intensive. Solids Handling and 24 hour staffing can also become costly. Minutes prepared by: Bryan Parris, Customer Service Director Water and Sewer Committee/ Commission Minutes, August 4, 2022 Page 3 of 4 However, with the water a 16” water main provides immediate consumptive and fire protection supply for low sewer impact developments along the HB 489 City corridor. The water line can be constructed in less time and for roughly $2.5 million less than the sewer system and can serve more customers. Given the infrastructure expense is nearly three times the land purchase. Hackett recommended that this location be used for high volume users only. Saying high volume users would ensure capital cost can be recovered and both water and sewer facilities have the flow to keep both systems flushed. Hackett recommended moving forward with water installation and wait on the sewer for now. Mr. Rich asked do we engineer for the sewer while we are going? Mr. Boyd stated we had already done a survey which handled both and we could do some preliminary on the sewer to assist if we were going for grants or projects later. Hackett said the engineer was proposing a singe 12” forced main which he did not agree with. He suggested we go with the dual forced main and do what we need to do for our system only allow development who meet our needs. Chairperson Bojo asked how long would a design take? Boyd and Hackett said 6 to 9 months. Bojo, McDaniel, and Rich agreed we need to go ahead with both water and sewer. OTHER None Adjourn There being no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned Respectfully submitted Mike Hackett, Director Rome Water and Sewer Division Minutes prepared by: Bryan Parris, Customer Service Director Water and Sewer Committee/ Commission Minutes, August 4, 2022 Page 4 of 4