Arkansas - Las Animas Sanitary Sewer System Improvements_Application

Home Browse Search

Water Supply Reserve Account - Grant Application Form Fonn Revised May 2007 financing. The agencies involved with that project include the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority. As a result of the allocated funds from the said agencies, the city is still falling short of its desired total budget by $200,000. Furthermore, the city has defined an additional $351,000 in needs that are not being addressed as a result lack of retained earnings, lack of debt capacity and financing through the stated governmental agencies. This amount cannot be absorbed by the town due to the significant cost. Furthermore, the town is already contributing $150,000 of local match to the project. Given the magnitude of remaining capital funds required to undertake the project, the city simple does not have the additional debt capacity nor the retained earnings to proceed with the other desired components of the project. As previously stated, the city would have to raise monthly rates an additional $0.85 to cover the additional cost. Furthermore, no other governmental agency may provide funds of the requested magnitude to aid the project. Therefore, a sizable portion of the proposed project will not be realized if the Roundtable funds are not committed. As a result of the city undertaking its current sanitary sewer collection project in addition to a significant water project, the city has shown that it has the expertise to undertake a project of this magnitude. To further aid in the process, the city will be contracting with GMS, Inc. to perform all the engineering, administration and construction over site. This will ensure that the project will meet its goals, be properly designed and constructed and that the administration of the project runs smoothly. The city has the ability to provide some in-kind contributions and is planning on providing some of those services. Those services include restoring the various impacted roadway surfaces to their original or better condition. This will have a sizable impact on extending the amount of available funds for the project. Any in- kind work outside of this will be limited as a result of the city staff's other duties and requirements, although there is a willingness to undertake more of the construction aspects of the project if possible. MeetinQ Water ManaQement Goals. Obiectives. and Identified Water Needs The proposed project will have impacts on the areas' underlying ground water resources. The first impact will be the reduction of water seeping into the city's sanitary sewer collection system. Given the fact that the city's existing collection is comprised ofVCP, the system in some areas acts like a french drain when the mains are submerged in ground water. By eliminating leaking joints and broken pipes, infiltration will be eliminated which will lessen the hydraulic loading on the WWTP. As previously shown, this represents approximately 2 ac-ft per year excluding added evaporative losses as a result of the subsequent surface flow. Therefore, the city is freeing up water for other uses, hence lowering the overall gap within the Arkansas Basin. The second impact to ground water will occur in the collection system components that are located above the ground water table. Given the system's condition, leakage from the collection system is anticipated to be occurring. This results in raw sewage reaching the ground water and negatively impacting its water quality. By eliminating this condition, the ground water would be expected to exhibit improved water quality characteristics. Therefore, this project will result in reducing the impact on the underlying ground water throughout the city and will provide a greater amount of useable water supply for both consumption and non- consumptive uses. The affects of the project will literally breathe new life into the city's sanitary sewer collection system. If the improvements are not undertaken, the city will experience increasing operation and maintenance costs to the point where they will be required to take action. The city is showing prudence and forward thinking by undertaking the improvements at a time when it is not a crisis and will achieve economy of scale by undertaking the project coincidental with their water project. This will effectively reduce the overall costs for the city on both projects. Given the nature of the deficiencies, the city will eventually have to undertake the project regardless of the capital cost. Now is the time to replace the maximum amount of collection system in a cost effective manner. F:\WPDATA\Las Animas\Wastwater\06 SSCoI\Financial\Roundtable\06-07 Application (may 07).doc 7