City Council

Communication:

03-623

Agenda:

December 22, 2003

Subject:

Report on Combined Sewer Overflow Long-term Strategy

Type:

Resolution

Ordinance

Receive/File

Submitted by:

Jeb E. Brewer, P.E.

City Engineer

William G. Stowe

Public Works Director

Item 47

Office of the City Manager

City of Des Moines, Iowa

Synopsis —

Report on the combined sewer overflow long-term control strategy to be received and filed. 

Fiscal Impact —

This document outlines a plan for future capital improvement projects that will be submitted for the City Council as the projects are developed and will increase the annual cost to the operating budget of the Sewer Maintenance Division of Public Works by $5,000 for sampling and testing.

Recommendation —

Receive and file.

Background —

On December 27, 2001, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit and included in the permit the requirement that the City of Des Moines develop and submit “a combined sewer system operational plan which provides for all actions necessary for implementation of the Nine Minimum Controls detailed within the CSO Control Policy published as Final Policy in the April 19, 1994 Federal Register”.  This operational plan must be submitted to the IDNR by December 27, 2003.   The report titled “The Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Strategy,” now on file with the office of City Clerk, addresses the requirements for this operational plan.

The IDNR also added to the NPDES permit a requirement that the City of Des Moines shall submit a Long-Term Control Plan (LTCP) by December 27, 2004.  “The Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Strategy” outlines the implementation schedule, the operational plan, and the compliance-monitoring plan, which are major elements of the required Long-Term Control Plan. 

The Long Term Control Strategy outlines the major elements of work required to control and eventually eliminate overflows from the combined sewer system during wet weather periods.  These work elements have been separated into five phases with each of the first four phases spanning five-year periods and the fifth phase beginning at the end of the twentieth year.  The major work elements identified in the first phase are currently included in the existing capital improvements program.  The work elements in phases 2 through 5 will be evaluated and programmed as a part of future capital improvements programs. These work elements will be incorporated where possible with other capital improvement and development projects to minimize total project costs and reduce the potential for the need to remove or relocate newly paved streets or utilities.