Integrated Planning for Wet Weather Compliance

Transcription

1 Integrated Planning for Wet Weather Compliance OWEA Collection System Workshop May 1, 2014 Imagine the result Imagine the result

2 Health & Safety Driving is the highest risk activity we do every day Traffic Fatalities are on the decline!! Let s keep it that way. Preliminary estimates show 982 motorists and pedestrians died in Ohio in 2013, the lowest number since the state began keeping records in Source: National Center for Health Statistics and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration s Center for Statistics and Analysis 2

3 Learning Objectives Identify drivers for integrated planning for Clean Water Act compliance Describe key features and principles of EPA s integrated planning framework Understand the role of affordability and cost effectiveness in implementing this approach Recognize the use of emerging technologies in integrated planning implementation Identify steps for determining applicability of integrated planning to given condition(s) 3

4 Demand for Clean Water Drives Integration Need Flood Management Point Source Controls (Treatment Plants) 1970s s Non-Point Source Controls Stream / Channel Protection CSO and SW Management 2000s 1950s 1970s Erosion and Sediment Control Drinking Water Protection 1980s s Sustainable Watersheds SSO and TMDLs Habitat Protection 4 Too Much Too Little Keep it Clean!

5 Lack of Integration: Single Purpose Public Works Projects Gray Infrastructure Green Infrastructure Blue Infrastructure Wastewater, water, and gas utilities; roadways, parking lots, and bridges Stream restoration, park systems, conservation land, and recreational facilities Stormwater and flood control facilities 5

6 Integrating Various Types of Infrastructure Gray Infrastructure Green Infrastructure Blue Infrastructure 6

7 Utility Infrastructure Challenges Balance environmental mandates: MS4 requirements and TMDL compliance with consent decree requirements while sustaining overall utility operations Deal with aging infrastructure: high probability of highconsequence system breaks that require emergency repair and improve preventive maintenance Identify reliable funding sources: affordability and acceptance issues Integrated Planning: a method to deal with these challenges 7

8 Integrated Planning Considerations Developed by EPA in response to affordability and schedule issues Addresses CWA objectives to keep sewage and pollutants carried by stormwater out of nation s waters Allows for full consideration of all CWA obligations and implementation of the most important projects Allows for identification of efficiencies in implementing overlapping and competing requirements Program is voluntary and responsibility to develop an integrated plan rests with municipality/authority Multiple agency responsibility can be used same community 8

9 Framework Development October 27, 2011 EPA (Stoner/Giles) Memo: Achieving Water Quality Through Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Plans June 5, 2012 EPA (Stoner/Giles) Memo: Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Approach Framework Stakeholder workshops Region 3 Integrated Planning Workshop (Oct. 2012) Source: /integratedplans.cfm January 18, 2013 EPA (Stoner/Giles) Memo: Assessing Financial Capability for Municipal Clean Water Act Requirements 9

10 Funding is Short. The List is Long. Utilities Must Do More With Less Flooding CSO and SSO Stormwater MS4 Wastewater Treatment 10 Watershed & TMDL

11 Role of Affordability Key driver of Integrated Planning Will control schedule, priorities will determine projects Criteria % MHI All CWA Projects and O&M costs Community Economic Picture Show community economic burden, including CWA Projects and other metrics including total housing costs, % unemployment, % poverty, etc. 11

12 Framework Overarching Principles Used by EPA in working with municipalities 1. Maintains existing water quality standards Pro Con Can achieve compliance with different, possibly lower cost projects No change or relief from CWA requirements 2. Allows a municipality to balance CWA requirements Pro Con Enables prioritization across different elements of CWA Disparities in funding within utilities among various entities charged with CWA compliance Source: 12

13 Framework Overarching Principles 3. Responsibility to develop an integrated plan rests with the municipality 4. Innovative technologies and Green Infrastructure are supported Pro Con Pro Con Municipalities can change plans USEPA and States will continue to use Permits, AOs and CDs to enforce plans Benefits for urban rehabilitation and community development.risks of implementing new technology 13

14 Unique Watershed Consent Decree SD1 Successfully Pushed for First CD based on Watershed Management KPDES Septic SSO CSO Runoff Bacteria sources in Banklick Creek 14

15 Detailed Case Study: City of Columbus Largest city in Ohio Operate a water and a wastewater utility Combined sewer community Source: 15

16 Columbus Wet Weather Management Plan Covers SSOs and CSOs Two consent orders with the State of Ohio Wet Weather Management Plan (WWMP) Nearly completed all CSO work Remaining efforts focus on SSO 16

17 ORT ART 17

18 18

19 What will the City get for $2.5B? Is there a better way to spend billions? Green infrastructure, Integrated planning Neighborhood improvements 19

20 20

21 Shift to Spending Money Above Ground 21

22 How can Columbus change the plan? Negotiations with the Ohio EPA began in July 2012 Several WWMP projects on hold Quick Hit projects initiated CEPT at City s WWTP Final agreement January

23 Organization of the Plan OEPA Interaction Suburban Outreach City Advisory Board Steering Committee Affordability Analysis Green Workforce Development Collection System Model Community Engagement Black & Veatch T&M Arcadis Brown and Caldwell Community Advisory Panel OSU Stormwater Strategic Plan CDM Smith Legal Services Columbus Quick Hits Third Avenue Barthman- Parsons Clintonville (6 sub areas) Real Time Control DSR 83 Weir Raise CEPT Various Stages 23

24 Example Quick Hit: Clintonville Sewer lining Lateral lining Direction of stormwater away from sewers Control of stormwater to meet water quality goals Morse Road 24

25 Blueprint Columbus Blueprint Columbus will be submitted to the Ohio EPA September 15, 2015 Will address consent order requirements 25

26 Is an Integrated Planning Approach Right for You? Actively working toward compliance on multiple, different areas of the CWA? Doing work that EPA is not giving you credit for? Does the current compliance structure overly burden your community with simultaneous requirements? Do rate structures support compliance and have concerns with affordability? Does preferred approach include holistic, watershed or innovative technology components? 26

27 Conclusions Integrated planning drivers are real Regulatory requirements Aging infrastructure Limited funding and affordability Community benefit facilitates implementation Break organizational and programmatic silos Use regulations as tools to meet your local needs Leverage data and funding from other programs 27

28 Imagine the result Daniel V. Markowitz Ph.D. Akron, OH Tel: Kathleen Smith P.E. Columbus, OH Tel: