Chapter Nine, Sanitary Sewer Subelement City of St. Petersburg Comprehensive Plan

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1 SANITARY SEWER SUBELEMENT Sections: INTRODUCTION GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES ISSUE: Rehabilitate/Upgrade Projects for Sanitary Sewer ISSUE: Expansion of Wastewater Facilities ISSUE: Maximum Use of Existing Wastewater Facilities ISSUE: Level of Service (LOS) Standards for Wastewater ISSUE: Five-Year Schedule of Capital Improvement Needs for Wastewater ISSUE: Reduction of Environmental Impacts Caused by Effluent Disposal INTRODUCTION The Sanitary Sewer Subelement of the Comprehensive Plan has been written to meet the requirements of the Local Government Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act, Chapter 163, Florida Statutes (F.S.). In addition, it was prepared in accordance with Chapter 9J-5, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.), "Minimum Criteria for Review of Local Government Comprehensive Plans and Determination of Compliance." The subelement updates earlier master plans, along with the 1989 Comprehensive Plan element, and covers a twenty-year planning period. The overall purpose of the Sanitary Sewer Subelement is to identify the service area, provide an inventory of the existing system, and identify future needs based on level of service standards. Much of this subelement is based upon data generated by the City's Water Resources Department. Primarily, the subelement coordinates with and synthesizes this large quantity of data and research compiled by Water Resources, with Level of Service, predominant land use categories, and population projections prepared by the Development Services Department. Goals, objectives, and policies have been developed to reflect the City's existing and projected sanitary sewer needs, along with priorities and strategies for the future GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND POLICIES GOAL-SANITARY SEWER (SS): Provide the most cost effective and efficient provision of sanitary sewer service while providing maximum practical protection to the environment and public health at a cost consistent with the public ability and willingness to pay. ISSUE: Rehabilitate/Upgrade Projects for Sanitary Sewer The principal problem associated with the City's sanitary sewer system is maintenance because most of the facilities are maintenance intensive, St. Petersburg is built out, and the system is in place. Also, parts of the system are deteriorating because the facilities are between 25 and 70 years of age. SS-1 Revised 5/21/09

2 OBJECTIVE SS1: Sanitary Sewer system performance deficiencies will be corrected through the Capital Improvement Element's Five-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements. SS1.1 The projects shall be undertaken in accordance with the schedule provided in the Capital Improvement Element's Five-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements. SS1.2 Priority shall be given those projects needed to correct existing deficiencies during the formulation and implementation of the annual work programs of the Water Resources Department. SS1.3 Whenever economically feasible, the Water Resources Department will seek to rehabilitate/upgrade existing facilities as an alternative to new construction. SS1.4 The Water Resources Department will provide necessary protective measures during construction activities to minimize conditions that would create adverse health or environmental impacts. SS1.5 The Water Resources Department shall continue its overall maintenance program, which includes a program to control both infiltration and inflow. ISSUE: Expansion of Wastewater Facilities Excess capacity exists for each of the City's four water reclamation facilities, through the year New development will not significantly impact the wastewater system, as the City is 95 percent built-out and future demands will be negligible. As described in the previous issue, the challenge facing the City is maintenance of an aging system. OBJECTIVE SS2: The projected demand and area specific needs for wastewater, through the year 2020, will be met by initiating those projects identified in the Sanitary Sewer subelement and included in the Capital Improvements Element's Five-Year Schedule of Capital Improvements. SS2.1 The Water Resources, Budget and Management, and Development Services Departments shall review the work program annually to ensure that LOS standards are maintained. SS2.2 The Water Resources Department shall obtain or ensure that authorized contractors obtain all required federal and state permits prior to the construction and operation of facilities. SS-2 Revised 5/21/09

3 SS2.3 The City will coordinate whenever necessary with Pinellas County to determine future unincorporated area needs for wastewater service in the City s service area. ISSUE: Maximum Use of Existing Wastewater Facilities The City has recognized the need to minimize capital expenditures on new facilities through routine maintenance and using existing facilities to their fullest potential. In 1989, the water reclamation plant capacity was estimated to be 68.4 mgd. This capacity figure is unchanged. The actual average day demand is currently mgd. As described in a previous issue, the challenge facing the City is maintenance of an aging system. OBJECTIVE SS3: The City shall not construct a new facility until maximum capacity has been reached at the present facilities. SS3.1 The City shall encourage higher intensity uses wherever feasible to maximize the use of current facilities and reduce urban sprawl. SS3.2 Compact growth shall be encouraged by following the criterion used as a factor of evaluation for proposed capital improvement projects that considers if the proposed project serves demand in an Activity Center (see Capital Improvement Element, Policy CI5.1). SS3.3 The City shall minimize capital expenditures on new facilities through routine maintenance and using existing facilities to their fullest potential. ISSUE: Level of Service (LOS) Standards for Wastewater The LOS standards are expressed in gallons per capita per day (GPCD) and are based on functional population projections and average daily flows at the four WRFs. Forecasted demand shows that adequate facilities are in place to meet the projected demand for average and maximum wastewater flows at all four WRFs of the St. Petersburg wastewater system through OBJECTIVE SS4 The City will continue to implement procedures to ensure that at the time of a Future Land Use Map designation change or a land annexation, adequate wastewater capacity is available or will be available to serve the development concurrent with the need. SS-3 Revised 5/21/09

4 SS4.1 The following LOS standards based on an average per capita demand are hereby adopted to determine the availability of facility capacity prior to a Future Land Use Map designation change or annexation: Facility gpcd A.Whitted WRF 166 Northeast WRF 173 Northwest WRF 170 Southwest WRF 161 SS4.2 SS4.3 SS4.4 SS4.5 SS4.6 All improvements, expansions, or increases in capacity shall be compatible with the adopted LOS standards. The Water Resources Department shall prepare an annual report on capacity and demand for each water reclamation facility. The Development Services Department shall be responsible for the review of this report. The Development Services Department will coordinate with all local governments within the designated service area to ensure that all Future Land Use Map designation changes are compatible with St. Petersburg's Sanitary Sewer Subelement of the Comprehensive Plan. All development shall be timed and staged in conjunction with the provision of existing water reclamation facilities. The City shall review the LOS analysis annually. ISSUE: Five-Year Schedule of Capital Improvement Needs for Wastewater The City will continue to provide reliable and safe wastewater service for each service area. This effort will require identifying future needs, the associated costs, and the ability to pay for them. OBJECTIVE SS5: The City shall maintain a Five-Year Schedule of Capital Improvement needs for wastewater facilities to be updated annually in conformance with the review process for the Capital Improvement Element of this Plan. SS5.1 The Water Resources Department shall be responsible for evaluating and ranking capital improvement projects proposed for inclusion in the Five-Year Schedule of SS-4 Revised 5/21/09

5 Capital Improvements. The Development Services and Budget and Management Departments shall review these recommendations. SS5.2 SS5.3 SS5.4 These projects shall primarily be funded from revenue bonding. Water Resources, Finance, and Budget and Management Departments will continue to seek innovative but fiscally sound and cost-effective techniques for financing system projects. Proposed capital improvement projects will be evaluated and ranked on eight categories (see Capital Improvement Element, Policy CI5.1). ISSUE: Reduction of Environmental Impacts Caused by Effluent Disposal The City's wastewater system was improved to minimize environmental impacts. For example, nearly all septic tanks within the City limits have been eliminated. In addition, the City has accomplished zero discharge of effluent primarily by means of a reclaimed water system, and deep well injection. Each plant has been retrofitted for advanced treatment which contains nutrients for irrigation. Excess supply and effluent which does not meet quality standards is injected into deep wells. Total capacity for the wells is 134 mgd. In addition, the City will comply with all State regulations pertaining to the disposal of effluent. OBJECTIVE SS6: The City shall continue to implement the following measures which actively pursue eliminating existing and preventing future adverse impacts on water quality and other sensitive environmental systems: 1. Require that any remaining septic tanks within St. Petersburg creating a health hazard, or having an adverse impact on the environment, connect to the City's wastewater system. 2. Prohibit new septic tanks within the current City limits and also within any areas that are annexed. 3. Require that all package treatment plants and septic tanks within newly annexed areas of St. Petersburg hook up to the City's wastewater system within five years of the annexation. 4. Comply with operational permits which limit the discharge of wastewater effluent into surface water bodies. SS6.1 The Water Resources Department will ensure that improvements to the wastewater system provide maximum reasonable protection to the environment. SS-5 Revised 5/21/09

6 SS6.2 SS6.3 SS6.4 SS6.5 The Water Resources Department will develop and utilize treatment and disposal techniques that conserve resources and minimize any adverse environmental impacts. The Water Resources Department will monitor and analyze the effects of the reclaimed wastewater system and deep well disposal systems annually to ensure maximum environmental safeguards. The Water Resources Department will provide protective measures during construction and maintenance activities to insure minimal adverse health and environmental impacts. The Water Resources Department will utilize buffers and landscaping at treatment facilities to minimize disruptions to the surrounding areas. OBJECTIVE SS7: The City shall continue to maintain in-house capability for monitoring, testing, and reporting of wastewater and reclaimed water quality as required by law to provide a cost effective, efficient, and environmentally safe wastewater management system. In addition, the City shall continue to implement the potable water conservation objective and its policies included in the Potable Water Subelement of the Comprehensive Plan. SS7.1 SS7.2 SS7.3 SS7.4 SS7.5 SS7.6 Collection, treatment and disposal methodologies used in St. Petersburg's wastewater system will meet all applicable local, State, and Federal rules, regulations, and guidelines. The City will evaluate all development activities that have potential impact on St. Petersburg's wastewater system. Plant operators will meet applicable standards and appropriate certifications in order to maximize the efficiency of the wastewater system. The City will review proposed annexations for impacts on St. Petersburg's wastewater system. The City will commit to eliminating untreated sewage overflow events by implementing the strategies identified in the March 1998 Sanitary Sewer Evaluation and Management Program (SSEMP), including, but not limited to, system improvement upgrades, sewer rehabilitation and preventative maintenance. Laboratory and personnel will meet requirements for maintaining applicable laboratory accreditation. SS-6 Revised 5/21/09

7 SS7.7 The Water Resources Department will maintain an approved industrial wastewater pretreatment program. SS-7 Revised 5/21/09