Robert Gray Ave Public MeetingProposed Sewer Construction

May 18, 2015Tiverton Wastewater District (TWWD)

“Our mission is to safeguard public health and protect and improve ground and surface water resources by implementing effective and efficient wastewater management and disposal within the Tiverton Wastewater District.” – TWWD

Meeting Schedule - Rules

• TWWD Presentation• Question and Answer Period– Priority to Residents of Proposed Construction

Area (Everyone will have an opportunity to speak)

– Comments limited to 3 minutes

– Please allow everyone to speak once before raising a second point.

“Who are you guys and what’s in it for you?”

• TWWD– Quasi-Public Agency created by the General Assembly.– Created, in part, to allow access to funding to help offset

the cost of sewer construction. (The Town is does not qualify for this funding)

– Separate and distinct entity from the Town

Our People, Your NeighborsVolunteer Board

Leroy Kendricks, ChairmanChris Nearpass Paul Northrup

Colleen Stanton Scott Humphrey

3 Part-Time Staff

Lisa Andromalos Sarah Stearns

Nan Godet

Why are we here?

• A little bit of history• Facilities Plan Update• RI Cesspool Act of 2007– Requires all properties within 200 feet of

the shoreline and other critical resources to replace all cesspools by January 1, 2014.

The Issues

• Stormwater II and RIDEM TMDL Study (2011)– Found two outfalls along the Tiverton shoreline

are contaminated with fecal bacteria commonly associated with failed septic systems.

– “The Town must commit to… construction of sewers for these problem areas.”

• Failed/Outdated Systems– older systems– non-conforming

• Environment

How Is Wastewater Treated?

Cesspools

Cesspool

• Non-Compliant• Effluent flows directly

into groundwater.• Fecal bacteria

contaminate local water resources

Different Types of Septic Systems

• Typical Septic System Installation– Uncommon, only 16% of land in Tiverton would qualify

• Poor Soils & Low Groundwater Table– Common scenario in project area

• Poor Soils & High Groundwater Table– Common scenario in project area

• Advance Treatment– Common scenario in project area

• Advance Treatment on Difficult Site– Uncommon, but more likely along waterfront area

Septic SystemsSeptic System• New systems compliant• Code-compliant systems often costly• Cost varies by location, soil type, septic system • Must replace at 25 years

What Is TWWD Proposing?

Sewer

Sewer System• Code Compliant

• Cost Effective

• Effective/Efficient wastewater management

• Public grants decrease cost

• Does not contaminate surface or ground water resources

• Maintained by TWWD

• Little disruption to property

• Brackett• Colonial• Craig• Kearns• Last• Old Colony Terrace• Randolph• Robert Gray• Summerfield• Terry

Robert Gray Project Area

TWWD Proposal for Robert Gray Ave Area

• Infrastructure Plan– 94 properties– 5 additional vacant lots

• Public/Private work– Project Covers Public & Private Work– Construction on/under streets– Construction on property

What does this mean for your property?

• Public construction – Roads will be repaved curb to curb

• Private work– Easement

• Everything back where it was/the way it was

What’s This Going To Cost?

Cost

One Time Construction Costs• Betterment Assessment Not To Exceed $18,000

– amortized over 40 years ($68.00/month)

Ongoing Usage Costs for Residential Customers• Annual Operations, Maintenance and Administrative Fee

– $150 annually ($12.50/per month)

• Estimated Sewer Usage Fee – Rate: $6.66/HCF (As of 7/1/15), Avg. Cost: $57.00/month

Monthly Construction Assessment$68.00

Estimated Average Usage Cost+ $69.50

Total (est.) Monthly Assessment & Usage Cost = $137.50

Additional Cost Info.Property Owners Who Choose Not to Tie In

– Still have to pay the the “Public Only” financial responsibility: $13,000 of the not-to-exceed $18,000 project cost. This results in a monthly cost of $49.00 when amortized over 40 years.

Residents will lose certain benefits if they choose not to tie in at the time of the main construction project and need to tie in at a later point in time. Specifically:

• They will no longer have access to the grant currently available for private work tie in

• They will not be able to finance private work tie in costs through the current 40 year amortization schedule and will be responsible for finding their own financing solution

Timeline

• Surveying and Subsurface Investigations– July 2015 – January 2016

• Design and Permitting– November 2015 – August 2016

• Bidding and Contract Award– August 2016 – October 2016

• Construction– December 2016 – September 2017

Voting Process

Timeline• Ballots will be mailed on May 29; • Are due back on June 12; • Will be counted on June 15. • Results will be announced June 15.

Eligibility• Voters must own a property within the proposed

project area • One vote per property

Voting Process: Sample Ballot

Question:

Tiverton Wastewater District shall extend sewer service to the Robert Gray Ave Neighborhood, whose boundaries are the Mt. Hope Bay Interceptor up through Poplar Drive, Riverside Drive, Sunderland Heights, Quaker Road, Bowen Avenue, and portions of Quaker Avenue west of Central Avenue and Tucker Avenue south of Route 24. The project includes sewer infrastructure construction in the public right of way as well as the necessary work on private property to complete the sewer tie-in. The project will be funded through a USDA grant and loan package totaling $7.1 million. Properties within the project area will be assessed a betterment fee upon completion of the project and/or property tie-in not to exceed $18,000.

APPROVE REJECT

OFFICIAL BALLOT****SAMPLE****

ROBERT GRAY

The Value of Sewers

• Less expensive than most other types of systems – because of the grants that we have obtained from the USDA, especially for

problem areas near the water.

• Less disruptive to the property (less equipment protruding through the soil). – You can have your property look the way you want it to look without

unsightly equipment.

• TWWD will be responsible for the financing. – No upfront cash is needed from the homeowner. Property owners pay a bill

similar to other utilities such as electric and telephone.

• It is best for the environment. – Even the best on-site system still puts unwanted nutrients into the water

body. Too much nitrogen in the water body can cause an overgrowth of algae and other plants. Over time, the plants will deplete the oxygen levels in the water which can trigger fish kills and depletion of other aquatic life.

Value of Sewers

• Worry Free– Homeowners are freed from responsibilities of owning, maintaining and

having to replace an on-site wastewater treatment system and from impacts of their neighbor's system as well. 

– It will be owned and maintained by the TWWD so there are no hassles to the homeowner.

• Clean– Sewer prevents fecal matter from getting into the water body from

failed systems. No one wants to fish, swim, or boat in water that has sewage in it.

– Treatment happens at the Fall River Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant which discharges highly treated water back into the water body.

• Value– Sewer provides greater flexibility for the use of your home providing

fewer restrictions when considering improvements such as adding a deck, a pool or an addition.

– It may enhance the resale value of the property for some buyers.

IF Voters Reject Sewers

Robert Gray Area (Current State of Systems)

• If the neighborhood votes against sewer installation, and your property is deemed non-conforming by the state or the town, you will have one year to take steps to install a conforming system. – All homes in the area must be inspected. Inspection paid by homeowner. – For those systems that fail, homeowners have one year to have a system

engineered, financed, and installed– Homeowners within 200 feet of the water that have cesspools, must replace

their system within 1 year per the RI Cesspool Act

“….the DEM will move to enforce all of our Rules and Regulations going forward should sewers not go in or should residents not connect. Should the residents elect not to construct sewers or connect, the Department will move immediately to enforce the Rules and Regulations and require any failed system be replaced.”

- Brian Moore, P.E. (Chief, Groundwater and Wetlands Protection)

Q&A

• Question and Answer Period– Priority to Residents of Proposed Construction

Area (Everyone will have an opportunity to speak)

– Comments limited to 3 minutes

– Please allow everyone to speak once before raising a second point.

– Collect Questions

– Questions after tonight?• www.twwd.org

• Email: info@twwd.org

• Phone: (401) 625-6701