WASTEWATER COLLECTION SYSTEM OPERATIONS SECTION

This section is also responsible for implementing the Agreed Order (AO) requirements that were approved by the TCEQ. Implementation involves planning, analyzing, and designing sewer rehabilitation projects, managing construction of these projects, and implementing the Fats, Oils, and Grease reduction program. The Wastewater Collection System Operations Section prepares and administers approximately 25 cleaning and televising and sewer rehabilitation contracts totaling over $65 million each fiscal year.

Requirements of the AO were summarized in a written plan prepared by the Wastewater Collection System Operations Section in 2004. The focus of the plan is to reduce the environmental impacts of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) in 29 of the 40 service areas. This plan is comprised of both structural and non-structural components. (printer friendly map)

The structural component of the plan involves rehabilitating over 950,000 linear feet of sewer lines per year over a 10 year period. This amounts to rehabilitating 3% of the collection system per year versus the industry standard of 2% per year. Rehabilitation methods currently employed include point repair (including manholes), remove and replace, pipe bursting, slip-lining, and cured-in-place lining.

The non-structural component of the plan involves cleaning the collection system (including lift station wet wells and force mains) and improving the management of information systems. This component involves cleaning and televising over 3.5 million linear feet of gravity mains per year. This amounts to cleaning and televising approximately 11% of the gravity mains versus the industry standard of 10%.

The Wastewater Collection System Operations Sections is divided into three groups (Planning and Engineering Group, Construction Management Group, and Field Inspection and Maintenance Group).

Planning and Engineering Group

The Planning and Engineering Group is responsible for the following tasks:

• Planning, analyzing, and designing sewer rehabilitation projects.
• Contract administration of cleaning and televising and sewer rehabilitation contracts.
• Identification and review of collection system capital improvement projects.
• Managing the Excursion Tracking System.

Construction Management Group

The Construction Management Group is responsible for the following tasks:

• Monitoring construction quality and progress of sewer rehabilitation projects and emergency repair projects.
• Coordinating sewer rehabilitation projects with other organizations.
• Construction and materials testing conformance.

Field Inspection and Maintenance Group

The Field Inspection and Maintenance Group is responsible for the following tasks:

Sewer line cleaning and television inspection Sewer line smoke and dye testing Manhole inspections Lift station wet well cleaning Constructability inspections Assisting in response to construction requests for information Correcting system record maps Responding to customer issues Fats, oils, and grease reduction program (Corral the Grease Program) Apartment sewer line cleaning program Infiltration/inflow investigations

Sewer line cleaning

Smoke Testing

Addressing customer concerns