WESTMORELAND COUNTY A SUCCESSFUL MASTER SEWER SYSTEM PLAN FOLLOWED TO COMPLETION

Transcription

1 WESTMORELAND COUNTY A SUCCESSFUL MASTER SEWER SYSTEM PLAN FOLLOWED TO COMPLETION Written by Charles Riedlinger, P.E. and Norm Risavi, County Administrator INTRODUCTION In 1995, Resource International, Ltd (Resource) was retained by Westmoreland County to develop a plan for collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater throughout the County. Prior to this study, there were no County-owned and maintained wastewater collection or treatment systems. Westmoreland County, Virginia, is a serene rural county located on the Northern Neck of Virginia bordering along the Potomac River. The Potomac River outlines most of the County s northern border, while the southern boundary is defined partly by the Rappahannock River. The county occupies a land area of roughly 236 square miles, 57% of which is forest land. The middle section of the county containing the state park and its surrounding area has a terrain that is mostly forested with scattered ravines and small valleys. The remaining land area is considered to be flat plateaus with some slightly rolling hills. The County's economy is largely based on agriculture. Tourism is another significant economic driver, related to historical sites such as George Washington Birthplace National Monument and Robert E. Lee's birthplace, Stratford Hall Plantation, as well as gambling activities available in Colonial Beach. The County is also an extended exurb of Washington, D.C.

2 It s location on the Potomac makes it a prime area for recreational fishing and it is a popular place for summer home communities. However, opportunities for economic development and population growth had been limited to certain areas in the County with suitable soils for on-lot septic systems. In many areas of the County, platted lots could not qualify for building permits due to unsuitable soils or the inability to provide adequate reserve drain fields required by the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. There are a number of commercial oyster beds within the waters surrounding the County. However, there are numerous areas the Virginia Department of Health has condemned due to pollution, largely attributed to failing septic tanks. The study was intended to seek environmental protection of the County's resources, and provide a means for stimulating planned population and economic growth prescribed by the County s Comprehensive Plan. STUDY APPROACH The countywide study focused on areas within the County where development had already taken place, and had a significant potential for continued development. These areas were reviewed with County representatives for input. As such the following areas were determined to be the focus areas: Portions of the Washington Magisterial District The Stratford Harbor Area The Glebe Harbor Cabin Point Area Tidwell Area The Coles Point Area The Sandy Beach Area The Kinsale Area. These areas had many things in common. They had waterfront communities that had stopped growing and offered little opportunity to contribute to the growth of the County tax base. Within those communities there were subdivisions approved in the 1950 s with small lots without area for septic drainfield reserves if soils were inadequate. Property owners were finding that they were denied building permits or they had to install expensive alternative sewer treatment systems. Outside the platted communities the surrounding area was generally rural and development was more commonly characterized by larger lots with adequate drainfield capacity. The report served as a tool for determining the needs within the county and prioritizing those needs for actual capital construction programs and was intended to establish a working plan that would serve as an implementation guide throughout a planning period of the next 20 years.

3 Goals of the plan include assisting The County with the following: Ensuring the preservation of its: o natural, o cultural, o historical, and o recreational resources. Providing the County with opportunities for planned o population, and o economic growth. The study was an interactive process whereby input and direction was received from the County at various stages. Likewise, input from the various communities was also solicited as the study went forward through a public information process. STUDY AREA EVALUATIONS Evaluation Criteria The evaluation criteria for selection of the areas for focused study included input from Westmoreland County leadership and the fact that these represent areas of highest existing development density, and accordingly the County's primary population centers. The areas selected for detailed study were areas that represent logical, potentially feasible, areas in which wastewater collection and treatment systems may either be extended from existing systems or have new systems developed to serve their wastewater collection and treatment needs. The development of wastewater collection and treatment systems can provide the County with the ability to allow for residential, commercial, and industrial growth; or focus the growth in predetermined areas, and aid in resolving ongoing environmental pollution. Therefore, two broad categories of evaluation criteria were developed. 1) Growth Areas Current Development Density Estimated Current Population Density Recreational Factors o Marinas o Boat Ramps o Campgrounds Development Restrictions 2) Environmental and Health Existing Pollution Problems o Condemned Shellfish Waters o Failed Septic/Drainfield Disposal Systems o Existing Wastewater Collection and Treatment System Capacities

4 o Soils Suitability for On-Lot Disposal Systems o Soils Suitability for Non-Discharge options Population Studies A methodology was been developed by Resource to estimate the population density within each study area. Data from the house count surveys, census data, and population growth factors from the Westmoreland County Comprehensive Plan and Colonial Beach Comprehensive Plan were utilized. Subdivision plans were also utilized to define the number of developable lots that remained. It was initially thought that the undeveloped lots would give an idea of potential growth. However, it was discovered that there was a large number of undeveloped lots and if all were taken into account, the growth figures would far exceed the County s comprehensive planed growth and would be unlikely to occur within the planning period. The final study indicated that some areas had the potential to exceed the County s projects and in consultation with the County growth rates were determined on potential growth due to location and other factors that could drive growth such as recreational facilities and marinas. Failed Septic Tanks Incidences of failed septic drainfield systems, as indicated in the reports of the shoreline sanitary surveys conducted by the Division of Shellfish Sanitation, were mapped on the individual study area maps. Citations of indications of failed septic/drainfield systems as compiled during shoreline surveys are independent observations made during the surveys, and do not include information from the files of the County Health Department. Therefore, Resource reviewed detailed records at the County Health Department for historical information on septic/drainfield systems. The data was considered to be representative of the history of failed systems, new on-lot disposal systems, and attempts to site new systems in the various study areas. Soils Suitability for On-Lot Disposal Systems Using soils mapping and soil type characterizations contained in the United States Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service Soils Survey of Westmoreland County, issued in August 1981, Resource performed a review of mapped soils suitability within the study areas. Soils (or lack thereof) which is indicated to be suitable for use in conjunction with wastewater disposal absorption fields have the potential to restrict development growth in areas of the County. Other Existing and Potential Pollution Sources There are a number of reported observations in the shoreline sanitary surveys that, even though they may not be as severe as other direct discharges to shellfish waters, were reviewed. Examples of these include animal pollution, laundry or kitchen waste discharges to ditches, and broken cleanouts in waste lines. While each of these reported entries have not been specifically tabulated or mapped in this report, the information was

5 considered in evaluating the existing and potential pollution sources in the study areas. Other considerations were marinas, boat ramps, and campgrounds. Soils Suitability for Non-Discharge Systems Reviews of the soils data has also been performed to scan for areas with soils which may be suitable for siting s discharges by spray irrigation or drip fields. The suitability matrix for both on-lot septic drainfields and spray irrigation fields were very similar. Soils with low permeability, high seasonal groundwater tables, and steep slopes are characteristic of poor soils for septic drainfield systems and spray irrigation fields. Accordingly, the suitable soils mapping shown in the study area maps applied to both on-lot systems and spray irrigation. Order of Magnitude Costs In order to assist in determining financial feasibility Resource developed costs for potential collection and treatment facility of each study area. These were performed for both collection and treatment systems. Study Results The Study identified five areas that had the population, growth potential, environmental needs and most importantly, public support. Those areas included the following: Coles Point Glebe Harbor Tidwell Cabin Point Washington District IMPLEMENTATION Funding One of the first obstacles to overcome was that of funding the proposed projects. Both the Westmoreland County Administrator and Resource s Project Manager had prior experience in funding projects through the Department of Agriculture s Rural Development Program in another State. The Program had reasonable interest rates and potentially significant grants. In Virginia, most of the Rural Development s funds had always gone to the western portion of the State. Detailed Preliminary Engineering Reports with financial projections were prepared and submitted for each individual project. Rural Development requested that the County prioritize the projects and only submit one project for funding at a time due to their funding constraints. The Coles Point project was the first project to be funded. Many had to be broken into phases to fit into Rural Developments ever shrinking budget.

6 The County has had to weave its way through the every changing Rural Development regulations and requirements. However, projects funded and constructed to date are as follows: Coles Point Sewer Phase 1 $5,565,117 Coles Point Sewer Phase 2 $1,209,406 Washington District Sewer Phase 1 $6,992,710 Washington District Phase 2 $7,913,800 The County has a fifth project currently funded and under design for the Glebe Harbor/Tidwells area. The loan is for $5,631,600 for building a pressure sewer collection and pumping system to the County s Coles Point Wastewater Treatment Plant. Design Flexibility Resource did not take a one size fits all for the development of each project. Each project was considered base on the needs of each individual study area. Using creativity, evaluation of different layouts and cost evaluations for different collection and treatment alternatives, cost effective solutions were found. To date Resource provided the design and contract documents for bidding, administered the construction and inspected the construction of the capital improvements. Resource has also provided operational and regulatory consulting post construction. These projects have included the following area with the County: Coles Point (2 phases) with a 200,000 gpd SBR treatment plant and spray irrigation effluent disposal system and a low pressure grinder wastewater collection system. Washington District (2 phases) with separate vacuum collection systems vacuum stations and with pumping wastewater to a centralized treatment plant at Colonial Beach. County residents around Montross with conventional gravity collection, pump stations and pumping wastewater to Montross for treatment. Coles Point Treatment Plant Resource is currently designing a low pressure grinder system to serve Tidwell/Glebe Harbor. The wastewater will be piped to the Coles Point treatment system. A drip system will be added for effluent disposal in the winter, in place of effluent winter storage.

7 The following figure shows the general locations of each system. SUCCESS OF THE STUDY Fourteen years ago Westmoreland County did not have any public sewer and today they have over 2,100 customers. Each project was based on securing users without requiring mandatory connections. The various projects have the following customer base that generates the funds to pay for Debt Retirement, Operation and Maintenance and Reserves without any funding from the County s general budget. The monthly sewer is about $42. The following is the existing systems user count: Coles Point Residential 638 Commercial 40 Projected Glebe Harbor Residential 201 Washington District Phase 1 Residential 769 Commercial 12 Washington Phase 2 Residential 650 Commercial 85

8 SUMMARY Westmoreland County has placed an emphasis on resolving problems within the County to provide residents with: Opportunities for economic development and population growth had been limited to certain areas in the County with suitable soils for on-lot septic systems. Stimulating planned population and economic growth prescribed by the County s Comprehensive Plan. Ensuring the preservation of its: o natural, o cultural, o historical, and o recreational resources, and o reducing pollution of shell fish waters