Title
Update on Engineering Services for the Wastewater Collection System Assessment to Target Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Reduction Measures (B)
**This item was presented to the UAB on May 9, 2018.**
Explanation
GRU provides wastewater service to approximately 200,000 people. The GRU wastewater collection system includes over 1,100 miles of piping, 15,500 manholes, 170 lift stations, and 64,000 customer connections. The system receives and treats over 6 billion gallons of wastewater per year and beneficially returns clean water back to the environment. GRU uses best utility practices in operating and maintaining its system.
Like other utilities, we have challenges with portions of our system that are aging and with sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs). The majority of SSOs are related to customers flushing grease and “non-flushable” toiletries into the sewer system. Other causes include wet weather events, infrastructure failures, and third party damage. GRU has several programs to prevent and respond to SSOs including customer education, commercial grease program, construction design standards, system maintenance, and storm response. GRU staff responds to SSOs and other emergencies on a 24/7/365 basis.
Aging infrastructure leads to inflow and infiltration which reduces the capacity of the collection system and treatment plants. GRU has been proactive in addressing aging infrastructure, and has further increased these efforts over the last two years. We have increased our programs for sewer cleaning and inspection, smoke testing, and system monitoring. We have increased our wastewater collection system renewal, replacement, and rehabilitation program to $7 to $9 million per year. This program is critical to extending the life of our facilities, recovering system capacity, and reducing the risk of system failures and SSOs. Addressing aging infrastructure requires a substantial sustained long-term investment. GRU recognizes the need for a compreh...
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