What We Do. Customer Service Infrastructure Service. Inspection/Planning/Permitting Service

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1 What We Do Customer Service Infrastructure Service Inspection/Planning/Permitting Service

2 Ta bl e of Con te nts Welcome Letter What is a Water Resources Commissioner? WRC Mission Statement/Safety & Quality Policy... 3 Customer Service 4-5 Customer Service to Oakland County Cities, Villages & Townships (CVTs) Emergency Services Environmental, Storm Water Requirements/Regulations & Public Education.5 Mapping Services & CAMS George W. Kuhn Confined Space Training Facility Water & Sewer Billing...5 Infrastructure Service Electrical Systems Lake Level Controls Lake Improvement Boards Pump Maintenance & Retention Treatment Basins Sewer & Drain Maintenance Wastewater Treatment & Laboratory Services..8 Water & Sewer Engineering Support Water System Operation & Maintenance Inspection/Planning/Permitting Service Cross Connection..9 Engineering Review..9 Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) Inspections....9 Miss Dig Project Management Soil Erosion WRC sewer inspection truck George W. Kuhn Retention Treatment Facility Wastewater treatment Plant controls

3 As your Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner (WRC), I serve the people and communities of our county, to ensure the quality of our waters for today and the future. My award winning staff and I work with residential and business customers, communities, regional partners and state and federal governments to bring the best services we can to our rate payers and the environment we all share. With 1,400 bodies of water to protect; hundreds of miles of water mains, sewer lines and drains to operate; regulated lake levels, erosion controls, a collaborative asset management system and many other operations, our office uses best practices to provide the best services possible. We are currently well into the five year Strategic Plan development that I started upon entering office in As we develop this first-ever strategic plan for the WRC we are organizing a top to bottom review of the agency led by teams representing all levels of employees, the communities we serve and the other county departments we work with. As we develop and implement this plan we are seeking to turn an already respected and efficient organization into a regional and state leader for a sustainable future. In this booklet we have set out the services we provide and a brief description of each customerfocused specialty we offer. I encourage you to visit our web site at to learn more about our organization and what we do. We re here to serve you! Jim Nash 2

4 What is a Water Resources Commissioner? A water resources commissioner is one of the least understood of any elected position. In Michigan, not all counties have a water resources commissioner or drain com- missioner. There are 83 counties in Michigan, but just 66 have elected county drain or water resources commissioners. Before state lawmakers got involved, drainage was considered a local problem and each township had its own drain commissioner. It wasn t until early in the twentieth century that a public agency was established at the county level to address multi-jurisdictional drainage problems. With time, this office grew to encompass a much greater array of responsibilities including water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, storm water drainage, lake level controls, soil erosion controls and a wide variety of other environmental programs. As an elected official, it is important that I keep the community fully informed. Our county varies considerably from rural areas that rely on wells and individual septic systems to urban communities with large water, storm and wastewater systems. All areas have different challenges and priorities. 3 WRC Mission Statement The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner s Office is dedicated to the principles of integrity and professionalism, and to the preservation and protection of public health, welfare, convenience and the citizens right to quality water. We are committed to providing our customers with services of high value that are fairly priced and environmentally sound. In our quest for excellence, it is imperative that each member of our staff responds to the issues of the public promptly, safely and with sensitivity and respect. In addition, we will endeavor to provide an appropriate resource when an issue is not within our authority. It is our desire to instill a culture that perpetuates an environment promoting trust, respect and teamwork. Safety & Quality Policy We are committed to excellence and providing progressive solutions by utilizing quality objectives, sound environmental practices, and a comprehensive safety program. Our organization has pledged a commitment to maintain management practices that ensure continuous improvement, the prevention of pollution, and a safe work environment for our employees. We will set goals that encourage efforts to meet or exceed local, state and federal water quality standards, environmental regulation and safety requirements within our control.

5 Cus t o me r S e r v i ce Customer Service to Oakland County Communities We provide operations and maintenance to both water and sewer customers in Bingham Farms, Bloomfield Hills, Commerce Township, Farmington Hills, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake Village, Royal Oak Township, White Lake Township and Wolverine Lake Village. We also operate and maintain well water supplied drinking water systems in parts of Franklin Village, Highland Township, Lyon Township, Novi, Oakland Township, Oxford Township and Springfield Township. George W. Kuhn Confined Space Entry Training Facility The training facility was built to mimic working conditions in confined spaces, such as manholes and chambers. The facility is available for use by state, county and local governments, as well as police and fire department staff. There is a standard 24-inch cover accessing a 6-foot deep manhole with both a 48-inch and 42-inch diameter concrete pipe passing through it. There is another standard 24-inch cover accessing a 5-foot deep manhole with a 36-inch diameter concrete pipe passing through it. These structures can be used to simulate a horizontal extraction scenario. The entire training structure is built into an earth mound approximately 12-feet tall with a concrete staircase on the east side for access to the manholes. Mapping Services & CAMS Our Mapping Services staff is experienced in converting water, sewer and storm drain infrastructure information into a Geographic Information System (GIS) format. While completing the conversion of all infrastructure maintained by this office, they continually update and improve existing data as well as create new datasets. This group is available to assist communities and organizations with their conversion and data maintenance needs, including GPS data collection, exhibit and general map production and document scanning and archiving. The WRC is a full participant of the Collaborative Asset Management System (CAMS). This system will improve our preventive maintenance program to become a more robust predictive maintenance system. The system will provide: An electronic, Web-based work order system available to field and office staff Cost savings to our customers by avoiding costly emergency repairs and increasing the life of existing equipment A Customer Request Management system, (CRM) allowing us to better serve our customer questions and concerns The availability for communities to partner with the WRC and use the new CAMS system SAVINGS Customer billing staff George W. Kuhn Confined Space Entry Training Facility Transforming Government CAMS & GIS mapping SAVINGS REACTIVE PREVENTATIVE PREDICTIVE CAMS & GIS integration SAVINGS 4

6 Cus t o me r S e r v i ce Storm water retention treatment basin controls Emergency Services The WRC provides emergency services for sewer and water maintenance 24 hours a day, seven days a week with a response time of two hours or less anywhere in Oakland County. Another part of our emergency services is the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA). This allows us to monitor electronically controlled alarms and security systems at well houses, water treatment facilities, water storage reservoirs, pressure reducing valve units, wastewater treatment plants, sanitary sewer lift stations, rain gauges, lake levels, etc. Dirt Doctors presentation to elementary school children Environmental, Storm Water Requirements/ Regulations & Public Education Our Environmental Team manages the federal storm water permit program for Oakland County. This involves coordinating with other Oakland County agencies, subwatershed groups and communities within the five major watersheds in Oakland County. Services we provide include: Public education on water quality issues Illicit discharge elimination plans Participation with numerous technical committees, public advisory councils and boards dealing with water quality Grant application and administration Educational program for students learning about the impact we have on our waterways and how to protect our rivers, lakes and streams. Water and sewer bill Water & Sewer Billing The WRC has dedicated staff that handle water and sewer billing for multiple communities in Oakland County. We are ready to answer any billing question or concern from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information contact We provide: Water meter reading Billing services for water and sewer customers Bill collection with options to pay by automatic bill payment from a customer s checking or savings account, on-line at the WRC Web site, by mail or walk-in 5

7 I nfr a s t r u ct ur e S e r v i ce Sewer & Drain Maintenance The WRC operates and maintains all county-owned sewers and maintains many individual community sewer systems under contract. We also operate and maintain various drains in the county authorized by law. Additionally, the WRC provides drain and sewer inspection, maintenance and sewage flow metering, engineering plan review and operation and maintenance of lake level control structures. Additional services include: Assisting landowners or developers in establishing a private drain in accordance with the state Drain Code Equipped with data programs tracking manhole repairs, inspections, maintenance and video taping Inspection crews are equipped with digital cameras Adding in regulatory compliance Sewer and drain equipment includes: Multiple vactor high-pressure cleaning trucks Jet, high-pressure cleaning trucks with a back easement machine Closed-circuit televising trucks equipped with 1000 feet of video cable with footage counter, digital recording for reports and reference, digital stills and a tracking system to locate manholes or areas of sewers or drains in need of repair Backhoe, bulldozer, skid steer and two dump trucks and trailers Multiple manhole repair trucks equipped with 25 feet cranes and equipment to make necessary manhole repairs Water System Operation & Maintenance The WRC operates and maintains Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD)-supplied drinking water and well water supplied systems for a number of communities in Oakland County. Our services include: Water main rehabilitation and repair, distribution valve inspection and repair, fire hydrant pumping, inspection and repair, water system flushing program and water service tap installation Water quality investigations Meter reading and meter maintenance Publishing the annual Consumer Confidence Reports Pressure and bacteriological testing Vactor truck Manhole repair Oxford Water Tower New construction inspection Fire hydrant inspection 6

8 I nfr a s t r u ct ur e S e r v i ce 7 Storm water retention treatment disinfection facility equipment Acacia Retention Treatment Basin Electrical system repair Sewage flow monitoring Pump Maintenance & Retention Treatment Basins The WRC operates and maintains more than 190 facilities comprised of sewage pump stations, retention treatment basins, community well and water treatment sites, pressure reducing facilities, elevated and ground storage reservoirs, sewage retention facilities, lake level augmentation sites and storm water retention facilities. Services include: Preventive maintenance at our facilities Automated control of remote sites Trained and licensed staff (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Wastewater, Water Treatment and Water Distribution System licenses) Compliance with multiple Combined Sewage Overflows (CSO) basin National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits 24-hour on-call service, seven days a week A fleet of vehicles equipped with cranes and necessary tools and electrical test equipment to diagnose problems in order to troubleshoot and repair equipment Maintenance of more than 2,000 residential grinder pumps Plan review of new and upgraded facilities Start-up inspection of residential and commercial grinder pump systems Construction inspection of new sewage pump stations and community well-houses, water treatment plants and water storage reservoirs Systems Control The Systems Control staff operates and maintains the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System (SCADA) an electronic notification system for monitoring system status, alarms and security at well houses, pressure reducing valves, wastewater treatment plants, sanitary sewer lift stations, rain gauges, lake levels, etc. Staff provides engineering plan review and control system inspections for new sewage pump stations and community well houses and maintains sites to both the National Electrical Code and Oakland County standards. Additional services include: Providing 15 portable generators for emergency power Personnel lift application providing elevated height service and maintenance Gas detector maintenance and calibration. (Maintaining more than 100 portable gas detectors and seven fixed-site gas detectors) Grinder pump dialers for automatic dial-up to our 24-hour, seven days a week emergency dispatch center Master electrician review of site plans for new water or sanitary facilities

9 I nfr a s t r u ct ur e S e r v i ce Wastewater Treatment & Laboratory Services The WRC operates and maintains several wastewater treatment plants and community septic systems, ranging in capacity from 1,000 gallons a day to 3.5 million gallons a day. Services include: Commitment to operations excellence and regulatory compliance (Recipient of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies Peak Performance Awards) Trained and licensed staff with expertise in various wastewater treatment technologies and processes 24-hour on-call service, seven days a week Plan review of new and upgraded wastewater treatment plants Operational suggestions, expertise and technical support provided to system owners who need to upgrade and/or modify their existing treatment systems to meet new or more stringent discharge permit requirements Biosolids land application programs Septic and sewage hauling services and disposal Operation of a full-time, in-house Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ)-certified laboratory for wastewater and drinking water sample analysis Wastewater treatment plant operated and maintained by the WRC Lab testing Water & Sewer Engineering Support Our office is experienced in developing and adhering to system budgets, oversight of system compliance and regulatory reporting. We handle all sewer flow and rain gauge data used to verify billing and monitor contract compliance for current customers. We are responsible for monitoring overflow events, controlling retention basin dewatering and assisting with direct maintenance efforts. Lake Level Controls The WRC is the delegated authority to operate and maintain certain lake level control structures at designated Oakland County locations. Fiftythree lakes in Oakland County have court-ordered lake levels, regulated by 36 control structures and eight augmentation pumps. Lake Improvement Boards The WRC staff serves as one of the five members on designated lake improvement boards across Oakland County. There are 50 lake improvement boards in Oakland County. We offer a step-by-step comprehensive Lake Improvement Board Manual for use by all lake boards. Long Lake level control Tipsico Lake Dam 8

10 Insp ect ion/pl anning /Per mitt ing Ser vice 9 Reviewing plans Acacia Drain relief inspections Backflow prevention device Inspecting for backflow Engineering Review The WRC has a dedicated staff that oversees and reviews new construction project plans that involve water, sewer and drainage facilities under its jurisdiction. These reviews are done to ensure that the detailed construction plans are in compliance with the adopted specifications established for the system. The appropriate permits for this work are issued upon approval. Engineering staff: Reviews plans for new residential and commercial developments under WRC jurisdiction Evaluates permits issued for municipal projects and local road commission and Michigan Department of Transportation projects Inspections The WRC staff can provide a variety of inspections associated with drain, sewer and water system construction. Inspections include: Major construction projects and improvements, drain permits, sewer and water system extensions and house lead connections, as well as handling customer concerns Plans to ensure that new facilities are properly constructed, that the integrity of the existing system is maintained and that proper compliance with federal, state and local laws and ordinances is observed Cross Connection This program is designed to prevent backflow or backsiphonage of contaminated water into the drinking water supply. Staff is also responsible for water quality sampling and water quality investigations. Our Cross Connection staff is responsible for the inspection, elimination and prevention of cross connections in commercial, industrial and residential facilities. Industrial Pretreatment Program (IPP) The Cross Connection staff is charged with enforcing IPP standards in accordance with the Environmental Protection Agency and Michigan Department of Environmental Quality regulations. The staff issues wastewater discharge permits and monitors permitted industries through regular wastewater sampling and comprehensive facility inspections.

11 Insp ect ion/pl anning /Per mitt ing Ser vice Project Management Under the provisions of the Michigan Drain Code, through municipal petition or citizen initiative, storm drain facilities can be constructed and established as a county drain. WRC staff members manage the construction and improvements of these facilities. New water and sanitary sewer facility construction is likewise managed by our staff upon request from local municipalities. Project management also includes easement acquisition and survey services. Easement acquisition services include: Acquisition of easements for the construction of storm drains, sanitary sewer systems, water supply systems and other miscellaneous projects ( sidewalks, bike paths, etc.) Obtaining acceptable easement agreements from individual property owners for these projects Survey services include: Surveying for the construction layout of county drains, sewers and water supply systems and other miscellaneous projects Site topography and the staking of easements and right of way boundaries Jamian County Drain Survey equipment Soil Erosion Our Soil Erosion staff issues permits for construction activities to control soil erosion on behalf of many communities in Oakland County. Construction sites are inspected on a regular basis to ensure soil erosion prevention measures are in place and functioning as intended. This service is provided to protect our lakes, streams and wetlands from the effects of soil erosion and sedimentation. Silt fencing for soil erosion Miss Dig The WRC provides onsite Miss Dig service which identifies the location of underground water, sewer and drain facilities. We stake the existing utility either with flags or by marking the ground with paint. Locating the underground infrastructure helps minimize the risk of damage during construction activities. Miss Dig water flags 10

12 The WRC Administrative Building One Public Works Drive Building 95 West Waterford, MI Phone: Fax: Web site: Oakland County 24-Hour Pollution Hotline: