Bergen County Utilities AuthorityBergen County Utilities AuthorityLittle Ferry, New Jersey

Rain Derived Infiltration/Inflow Rain Derived Infiltration/Inflow Reduction and Sanitary Sewer Reduction and Sanitary Sewer Overflow Elimination ProgramOverflow Elimination Program

Tenafly BoroughPresented by: Leonard A. Faiola, PE

Remington, Vernick & Arango Engineers

April 5, 2011

Introduction

BCUA is responsible for its Interceptor Sewers and Treatment Facilities, not municipal sewers.

So why is BCUA undertaking this project?hy is BCUA undertaking this project? Wet weather flows at the BCUA Little Ferry Water Wet weather flows at the BCUA Little Ferry Water

Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) are a problem Pollution Control Facility (WPCF) are a problem chiefly due to municipal sewers Rain Derived chiefly due to municipal sewers Rain Derived Infiltration/Inflow (RDI/I).Infiltration/Inflow (RDI/I).

Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) from manholes and Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) from manholes and into basements are prohibited, although are reported by into basements are prohibited, although are reported by municipalitiesmunicipalities

Without action NJDEP could prohibit new sewer Without action NJDEP could prohibit new sewer connections and new land development projects in the connections and new land development projects in the BCUA District.BCUA District.

Introduction

On April 15 and 16, 2007, New Jersey experienced a On April 15 and 16, 2007, New Jersey experienced a Nor'easter that brought 5 - 12 inches or more of rain. Nor'easter that brought 5 - 12 inches or more of rain.

Storm events as recently as March 2011 also resulted in Storm events as recently as March 2011 also resulted in substantial rainfall and runoff.substantial rainfall and runoff.

These storms activated Rain Derived Infiltration / Inflow.These storms activated Rain Derived Infiltration / Inflow. Caused sewer back-ups into basements, manhole Caused sewer back-ups into basements, manhole

overflows, pump station overload, and other serious overflows, pump station overload, and other serious problems in BCUA member municipalities.problems in BCUA member municipalities.

Caused municipal sewers to surcharge.Caused municipal sewers to surcharge. Caused a partial by-pass of the BCUA WPCF in Little Caused a partial by-pass of the BCUA WPCF in Little

Ferry into the Hackensack RiverFerry into the Hackensack River

NJDEP Requirements

NJDEP required that the BCUA provide assurance NJDEP required that the BCUA provide assurance that RDI/I will be reduced in order for it to approve that RDI/I will be reduced in order for it to approve the BCUA Wastewater Management Plan (WMP)the BCUA Wastewater Management Plan (WMP)

WMP approval is required to allow for future land WMP approval is required to allow for future land development projects and associated sewer development projects and associated sewer connections in BCUA member municipalities.connections in BCUA member municipalities.

An amendment to the BCUA’s WMP incorporating An amendment to the BCUA’s WMP incorporating various development is currently being processed by various development is currently being processed by the NJDEP.the NJDEP.

Definitions

Rain Derived Infiltration- - The leakage of ground The leakage of ground and storm water into the sanitary sewer system and storm water into the sanitary sewer system through defects in the piping and manholes during through defects in the piping and manholes during wet weatherwet weather..

Inflow- - The entrance of storm water into the The entrance of storm water into the sewer system from roof leaders, sump pumps, area sewer system from roof leaders, sump pumps, area drains, foundation drains, manhole covers, storm drains, foundation drains, manhole covers, storm sewer cross connections, leaking water mains and sewer cross connections, leaking water mains and non-contact cooling water. non-contact cooling water.

Consequences for Failure to Reduce RD I/I

Inflow/Infiltration Sources into Municipal Sanitary Sewers

MUNICIPAL SANITARY

SEWER MAIN

Excessive RDI/I

Consequences:Consequences: Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) that include sewage Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) that include sewage

backups into houses and businessesbackups into houses and businesses Damage to propertyDamage to property Pollution of local stream corridors, Hackensack River and Pollution of local stream corridors, Hackensack River and

its tributariesits tributaries Clean-up costs to property owners & member municipalitiesClean-up costs to property owners & member municipalities Health & safety hazardsHealth & safety hazards Economic hardshipsEconomic hardships If not reduced- enforcement including fines, prohibitive If not reduced- enforcement including fines, prohibitive

costs to enlarge municipal collection system and BCUA costs to enlarge municipal collection system and BCUA WPCF in Little FerryWPCF in Little Ferry

USEPA Report USEPA 1990 Report to Congress on its USEPA 1990 Report to Congress on its

Study Findings for RDI/IStudy Findings for RDI/I Noted it is important to address the entire Noted it is important to address the entire

area of the sewer system including public area of the sewer system including public and private portionand private portion

Recommended municipal programs to Recommended municipal programs to assist homeowners to pay for repairs of assist homeowners to pay for repairs of Private Building Service Connections Private Building Service Connections (PBSCs) and prohibited connections(PBSCs) and prohibited connections

USEPA Case Studies Studies across the country show the Studies across the country show the

following:following:Private Building Service Private Building Service

Connections (PBSC) and prohibited Connections (PBSC) and prohibited connections are major sources of connections are major sources of RDI/I 40 to 80%.RDI/I 40 to 80%.

Municipal sanitary sewers are more Municipal sanitary sewers are more prone to RDI/I than interceptor prone to RDI/I than interceptor sewerssewers

Evaluation Findings BCUA has conducted a comprehensive BCUA has conducted a comprehensive

engineering study and found that Rain engineering study and found that Rain Derived Infiltration/Inflow account for:Derived Infiltration/Inflow account for: On an annual average, approximately On an annual average, approximately

30 MGD of RDI/I is entering the 30 MGD of RDI/I is entering the BCUA system from its member BCUA system from its member municipalitiesmunicipalities

Peak rate approximately 138 MGD Peak rate approximately 138 MGD over dry weather for the storm over dry weather for the storm analyzedanalyzed

As evidenced by the Nor'easter and As evidenced by the Nor'easter and the BCUA evaluation, the member the BCUA evaluation, the member municipalities have been unsuccessful municipalities have been unsuccessful in removing RDI/I alone.in removing RDI/I alone.

BCUA Approach The BCUA has developed a

comprehensive plan to: Reduce excessive RDI/IReduce excessive RDI/I Eliminate SSOsEliminate SSOs Assure capacity in the Assure capacity in the

BCUA Interceptor sewer BCUA Interceptor sewer and treatment facilitiesand treatment facilities

Assure adequate and future Assure adequate and future capacity of capacity of your Municipal sanitary collection systems

Complete without costly Complete without costly BCUA WPCF or additional BCUA WPCF or additional municipal sewer municipal sewer constructionconstruction

BCUA’s RoleThe BCUA constructed interceptor The BCUA constructed interceptor

sewers and a WPCF in Little Ferry to sewers and a WPCF in Little Ferry to replace failing individual municipal replace failing individual municipal sewage treatment plants in the 1950’s sewage treatment plants in the 1950’s due to serious water pollution in due to serious water pollution in Overpeck Creek and the Hackensack Overpeck Creek and the Hackensack RiverRiver

The BCUA will again assist its The BCUA will again assist its member municipalities, such as member municipalities, such as Tenafly Borough, to collectively Tenafly Borough, to collectively accomplish what they could not accomplish what they could not do individually.do individually.

Reduction Goal

A goal of 30% reduction in RDI/I over a 20-A goal of 30% reduction in RDI/I over a 20-year period is reasonable and attainable year period is reasonable and attainable based on tasks and established case studies.based on tasks and established case studies.

Initial Steps

The following outlines the initial steps required to achieve this goal:

Presentation at municipal Mayor and Council meetings Presentation at municipal Mayor and Council meetings to obtain acceptance and cooperationto obtain acceptance and cooperation

Approval of the local municipal government to Approval of the local municipal government to undertake corrective work within their municipalityundertake corrective work within their municipality

Execution of the Agreement with municipalityExecution of the Agreement with municipality Approval/agreements with impacted property owners Approval/agreements with impacted property owners

for access to perform property/basement assessment for access to perform property/basement assessment and where required install corrective measuresand where required install corrective measures

Proposed Tasks

The following subsequent tasks are proposed by BCUA::

Engineers will request voluntary permission of Engineers will request voluntary permission of property owners to enter their property to conduct property owners to enter their property to conduct inspection of basement plumbing and home exterior to inspection of basement plumbing and home exterior to locate sources of RDI/Ilocate sources of RDI/I

Identify RDI/I connections to the sanitary sewer Identify RDI/I connections to the sanitary sewer systemsystem

Identify leaking PBSCs through internal CCTV Identify leaking PBSCs through internal CCTV inspection.inspection.

Repair/replace leaking PBSCs at Repair/replace leaking PBSCs at no direct cost to property owners or the municipality

Proposed Tasks- (continued) BCUA shall redirect sump pumps out of the municipality’s sanitary BCUA shall redirect sump pumps out of the municipality’s sanitary

sewersewer

Proposed Tasks- (continued) BCUA shall assist to redirect roof leaders out of the BCUA shall assist to redirect roof leaders out of the

Municipality’s Sanitary SewerMunicipality’s Sanitary Sewer

Proposed Tasks- (continued) BCUA shall assist to redirect foundation drains out of BCUA shall assist to redirect foundation drains out of

the Municipality’s Sanitary Sewerthe Municipality’s Sanitary Sewer

Proposed Tasks-(continued)

Where necessary, install a storm water Where necessary, install a storm water sewer in the municipal right-of-way for sewer in the municipal right-of-way for sump pump discharge from homessump pump discharge from homes

Repair manhole leaks and adjacent pipe Repair manhole leaks and adjacent pipe shears of municipal owned sewersshears of municipal owned sewers

Repair municipal owned sewer mains by Repair municipal owned sewer mains by grouting, lining, or replacementgrouting, lining, or replacement

All at no direct cost to the homeowner or the municipality.

BCUA Repairs BCUA BCUA will enter into an agreement with into an agreement with

Member Municipalities to make the Member Municipalities to make the necessary repairs to reduce RDI/I where necessary repairs to reduce RDI/I where sewer system leaks on municipal rights-of-sewer system leaks on municipal rights-of-way are located.way are located.

The BCUA The BCUA will also enter into a agreement, into a agreement, on a voluntary basis, with private property on a voluntary basis, with private property owners for repairs to be made.owners for repairs to be made.

Actions The BCUA has/is conducting the following:

Implementing a Public Information Program to facilitate voluntary compliance including a rain barrel sales initiative as an incentive to disconnect roof leaders from sanitary sewers.

Actions-continued

Prioritized Tenafly Borough Meter Basin Areas based on previous RDI/I studies.

Identified sources of RDI/I within the Tenafly Borough through previous RDI/I studies.

BCUA to publicly bid and contract for the BCUA to publicly bid and contract for the necessary repairs/rehabilitation both on necessary repairs/rehabilitation both on municipal right-of-ways and within private municipal right-of-ways and within private properties.properties.

Findings to Date Total estimated RDI/I is 825,000 gpd based

on previous studies This is approximately 43% of total sanitary

sewer flow Manholes located in low, flood prone areas

contribute to excessive Inflow There are numerous locations of sewer

crossings at streams, many of these are siphons

Tentative Schedule Tenafly Borough

Mar/April 2011- Public Meeting with Mayor/Council April/May 2011- Execution of Agreement

w/Municipality May/July 2011 - Obtain property owner

permission to conduct basement plumbing assessment

May/Dec 2011 - Conduct street sewer and door to door home field investigations

Jan 2012 - Report on findings Feb/June 2012 - Obtain agreement w/property owners

to conduct corrective work July 2012 - Initiate remediation of RDI/I sources

In Summary The project objective is to reduce RDI/I by a goal

of 30% which in turn will:

Help reduce sewage related costs Improve the health and safety of residents by helping to

eliminate sewer back-ups into basements Improve municipal ratable base by ensuring sewer

capacity for future land development projects Forego costly sewer and plant expansion for rate payers Improve the local water environment by helping to

reduce manhole overflows and plant bypasses

In Summary-continued

The project objectives can be achieved by: Providing a framework for the municipalities to

do what they cannot do by themselves Focusing on repairing or replacing leaking

building laterals Focusing on disconnecting prohibited

connections such as sump pumps and roof drains

Focusing on manhole repairs and adjacent pipe shears

Questions & Answers

““Any Questions?”Any Questions?”