iv.m.2 wastewater (3rd screencheck) - los...

CityofLosAngeles IV.M.2‐1 BarlowHospitalReplacementandMasterPlanProjectENV2009‐2519‐EIR DraftEIR. April2012

IV.M.2 WASTEWATER

1. INTRODUCTION

Thissectiondiscusses thewastewatersystemfortheproposedProjectsiteandsurroundingarea

and evaluates potential Project impacts on the existing wastewater system maintained by the

BureauofSanitation (BoS)of theCityofLosAngelesDepartmentofPublicWorks(LADPW).The

analysisbelowisbased,inpart,onthetechnicalreportpreparedbyKPFFConsultingEngineersfor

theproposedProject, entitledBarlowReplacementHospitalandMasterPlan:Wastewater (2010).

ThatreportisincludedasAppendixIV.M.2ofthisDraftEIR.

2. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

a. City of Los Angeles General Plan Framework

The City of Los Angeles General Plan Framework Element is a plan for long‐term growth that

establishes a City‐wide context for guiding the update of Community Plans and General Plan

elements. The Framework Element characterizes the reuse of gray water as an opportunity to

reducewastewater generation, although it notes that systems should be designed to ensure that

graywater does not enter the stormdrain system. Goal 9AwithinChapter 9, Infrastructure and

PublicServices,oftheGeneralPlanFramework,andtherelatedobjectivesandpoliciesaddressthe

needforadequatewastewatercollectionandtreatmentcapacityfortheCityandinbasinstributary

toCity‐ownedwastewatertreatmentfacilities.1

b. City of Los Angeles Integrated Resources Plan (IRP)

TheIntegratedResourcesPlan(IRP)isaplanningdocumentpreparedundertheleadershipofthe

BoSandtheDepartmentofWaterandPower(DWP)tocomprehensivelyaddresstheCity’swastewater,

stormwatermanagement,andrecycledwaterneeds.

PhaseIoftheIRPprojecttookplacebetween1999and2001andaddressedtheinterrelationshipsoftheLos

Angelesbasin‐widewater,wastewater,andstormwatersystemsand theneedsof theseprograms toserve

thepopulationofLosAngeles through theyear2020(the IntegratedPlan for theWastewaterProgram,or

IPWP). The IPWP addressed the complex interrelationships of the water, wastewater and stormwater

systemsandtheanticipatedneedsoftheCityintheyear2020.PhaseIstudiesfocusedongapsintheability

of the City’s currentwater resources systems to serve future populations and focused onways to bridge

1 City of Los Angeles, General Plan Framework Element, Chapter 9: Infrastructure and Public Services,

http://cityplanning.lacity.org/cwd/framwk/chapters/09/09.htm#Wastewater.2001.

IV.M.2 Wastewater


those gaps throughplanning of future facilities, resourcemanagement, and demandmanagement. Phase I

also resulted in the development of a set of performance‐based guiding principles for future planning of

waterresourcesmanagement.Theguidingprinciplepertainingtowastewaterisasfollows:

• Build new wastewater facilities “upstream” in the system. New or expanded wastewater

facilities will be needed. Placing these facilities upstream in the system offers greater operating

flexibility systemwide, increases opportunities to beneficially reuse treated effluent, and reduces

dependencyonimportedwaterforusessuchasirrigation,industrialprocessingandcooling,etc.

PhaseIIof theIRP,undertakenbetween2002and2006,encompassedthepreparationoftechnicalstudies

andtheidentificationandcomparisonofdifferentalternativeapproachestomanagementoftheCity’swater

resources.Fourfinalalternativesweredeveloped,basedonthestudiesundertakeninPhaseI,todefinethe

appropriateinfrastructure,policies,andprogramsforimplementationby2020.

The Los Angeles City Council certified the Final EIR in November 2006 and adopted a final

alternative,theApprovedAlternative(Alternative4).Alternative4isintendedtoincreasewastewater

collection and treatment capacity, water reclamation storage and beneficial use, water conservation, and

runoffmanagementopportunities.

The IRP is documented in a collection of reports that address facilities planning, financial planning, and

environmentaldocumentation.2

c. Planned Capital Improvements

Wastewater initiallyfirst flowsthroughsmall‐diametersewerscalledlaterals,orlateralpipelines,

thatconveywastewater fromresidencesorbusinesses into larger‐diametersewermainsbeneath

streets, alleys, and other rights‐of‐way. Mains in turn connect to collectors and trunk lines that

dischargeintointerceptorsewers.Interceptorsewers,whichmaybeeightfeetormoreindiameter,

conveywastewatertotheCity’streatmentandwaterreclamationplants.

i. Wastewater Capital Improvement Program

Every 10 years, the Bureau of Sanitation of the City of LosAngelesDepartment of PublicWorks

updatesthe10‐YearCapitalImprovementProgramtoaddressplannedreplacement,rehabilitation,

andexpansionofthemajorwastewatercollectionsystemandtreatmentfacilitieswithintheCity’s

service area. Many of these improvements are necessary for compliancewith State and Federal

2 CityofLosAngeles,IntegratedResourcesPlan(IRP),http://www.lacitysan.org/irp/facilitiesplan.htm.2006.

IV.M.2 Wastewater


CleanWater Act regulations; improvements are then carried out by various divisionswithin the

Bureaus of Sanitation and Engineering. The most recent update, the Wastewater Capital

Improvement Program: Fiscal Year 2006/2007–2015/2016, defines improvements scheduled

through2016tothecollectionsystem,pumpingplants,andthefourtreatmentplantsthatservethe

area.3Improvementsplannedforthecollectionsystemincludeprimarysewerprojects(i.e.,mains,

ormunicipally‐ownedpipes18ormoreinchesindiameter),secondarysewersystemprojects(i.e.,

pipeslessthan18inchesindiameter,servingresidentialandcommercialproperties),reliefsewers,

andemergencyprojects.

ii. Collection System Settlement Agreement

In 2004, the City of Los Angeles reached a settlement agreement with local governments and

environmental organizations to replace aging and substandard secondary wastewater system

infrastructure, or pipes less than 16 inches in diameter serving residential and commercial

properties, over the course of 10 years.4 TheAgreement identified agingwastewater systems in

needofrehabilitationorreplacementthroughouttheCity’sservicearea.Approximately2.46miles

ofwastewaterpipelinesthroughouttheSilverLake—EchoPark,CentralCityNorth,andCentralCity

areasboundedbyAcademyRoadonthenorth,TempleStreetonthesouth,theLosAngelesRiveron

theeastandGlendaleBoulevardonthewestwereacknowledgedtobemorethan70yearsoldand

tohavereachedtheendoftheiruseful life.ThisareaincludestheProjectsite,andimprovements

are planned for portions of the system in one of the City projects planned under the settlement

agreement (e.g., Secondary Sewer Renewal Program (SSRP) N13). Wastewater infrastructure

improvements under that City project commenced in February 2011, and are expected to be

completedbyJune2012.5

iii. Wastewater System Design Criteria

The City of Los Angeles Bureau of Engineering Sewer DesignManual: Part F establishes design

criteriaforpipeswithintheCity’swastewatersystem.TheSewerDesignManualrecommendsthat

pipesbedesignedforpeakdryweatherflowdepthsoflessthan50percentofpipedepthforpipes

18inchesor less indiameter, to accommodate fluctuations in flowwhile stillmaintainingdesign

3 CityofLosAngeles,DepartmentofPublicWorks,BureauofSanitation,WastewaterCapital ImprovementProgram,

FiscalYears2006/07–2015/16.http://www.lacitysan.org/fmd/WCIP/WCIPBook06‐07.pdf.2006.4 City of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works, Collection System Settlement Agreement,

http://www.lasewers.org/sewers/about/index.htm.2004.5 KPFFConsultingEngineers,pers.com.,February28,2012(basedonlatestCityofLosAngelesProjectInformation

ReportforSSRPN13)

IV.M.2 Wastewater


velocities.6 In addition, for purposes of analyzing remaining capacity, wastewater pipes are

consideredconstrained(i.e.,atcapacity)whenflowssurpass75percentofpipedepth,sinceflows

inexcessofthiscancauseinternalpressureandsurchargesinupstreamportionsofthesystem.7

BureauofEngineeringSpecialOrderNo.06‐0691,whichalsosets forthdesigncriteria forgravity

sewers, further states that trunk, interceptor,outfall, and relief sewers (i.e.,wastewaterpipes18

inchesindiameterandgreater)shouldhaveatleasta60‐to100‐yeardesignlife,andsewerlaterals

(i.e.,pipeslessthan18inchesindiameter)shouldhaveatleasta100‐yeardesignlife.8

d. City of Los Angeles Municipal Code

Sections64.11and64.12of theLosAngelesMunicipalCode (LAMC)requireapprovalofasewer

permit,alsocalledanSPermit,priortoconnectiontothewastewatersystem.Newconnectionsare

assessed a Sewerage Facilities Charge based on wastewater flow volume and strength. The

determinationofwastewaterstrengthforeachapplicableprojectisbasedonCityguidelinesforthe

averagewastewater concentrationsof twoparameters,biologicaloxygendemandandsuspended

solids, foreach typeof landuse.Feespaid to theSewerageFacilitiesChargearedeposited in the

City’s Sewer Construction andMaintenance Fund forwastewater‐related purposes including but

notlimitedtoindustrialwastecontrolandwaterreclamationpurposes.

Section64.15oftheLAMCrequiresthataSewerCapacityAvailabilityRequest(SCAR)beperformed

bytheDepartmentofBuildingandSafetywhenasewerpermit issoughtforanewconnectionto

the City's wastewater system, or in the event of a proposed increase in discharge to a public

wastewaterlineorproposedfuturedevelopmentanticipatedtogenerate10,000gallonsormoreof

wastewater per day. A SCAR evaluates the existing wastewater collection system to determine

whether adequate capacity exists to convey project‐generated wastewater to the appropriate

treatmentplant.Ifcapacityisavailable,theDepartmentofBuildingandSafetyacceptsprojectplans

and specifications for plan check; otherwise, projects are placed on a waiting list to receive an

allocation of forthcoming capacity, or applicants are required to construct a connection to the

nearest wastewater line with available capacity. The Department of Building and Safety accepts

project plans and specifications for plan check if the project is on the waiting list, although the

6 KPFFConsultingEngineers,BarlowMasterPlanandReplacementHospital:Wastewater,(2010)4.7 City of LosAngeles, Department of PublicWorks, Bureau of Sanitation,HyperionSewerSystemManagementPlan,

(2009),58.8 CityofLosAngeles,DepartmentofPublicWorks,BureauofEngineering,SpecialOrder006‐0691:PlanningPeriod,

Flow,andDesignCriteriaforGravitySanitarySewersandPumpingPlants, http://eng.lacity.org/docs/sporders/1991/so00691.pdf.1991.

IV.M.2 Wastewater


projectmay not connect to the City’swastewater system until capacity is available and a sewer

permithasbeenissued.

3. EXISTING CONDITIONS

a. City of Los Angeles Wastewater Collection and Conveyance

The City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation, is responsible for

wastewatercollectionandtreatmentintheCityofLosAngeles,includingtheProjectsite.

The Bureau of Sanitation’s Wastewater Collection Systems Division operates and maintains the

largest wastewater collection system in the nation, serving over 4 million people within

approximatelya600‐square‐mileserviceareaandcomprisingmorethan6,700milesofwastewater

pipes,140,000maintenancestructures,100diversionstructures,and44sewagepumpingplants.

TheCitysystemalsoprovideswastewaterconveyanceandtreatmentservicesto29agenciesunder

contractual agreements. City wastewater pipes range from six to 150 inches in diameter, with

approximatelyfiftypercentofthesystemmorethan50yearsold.9TheBureauofSanitationisalso

responsibleforsystemmaintenance.

The municipal wastewater main beneath Stadium Way adjacent to the Project site is the most

upstreammain for this tributaryareaand therefore initiallyonly serves theProject site (i.e., the

Projectsiteisthefirstconnection).Thereare15availablepointsofconnection/discharge(laterals)

between the Project site and the wastewater main beneath Stadium Way, including 10 for the

eastern Project site and five for thewestern Project site. Six active laterals exist on the eastern

ProjectsiteandtwoactivelateralsexistonthewesternProjectsite;theremainingfourlateralson

theeasternProjectsiteandthreelateralsonthewesternProjectsitedonotcurrentlyappeartobe

inuse.

The wastewater main beneath StadiumWay was constructed at different times in segments of

varying diameters. The oldest remaining portions of the main were constructed in 1917, with

upgraded,largersegmentsintheProjectvicinitydatingtothe1930s,1940s,and1960s.Themost

upstreamsegmentsof thewastewatermain,beneathStadiumWayatScottStreetnear thenorth

end of the Project site, are 8 inches in diameter, increasing to 15 inches in diameter near the

midpoint of the Project site, and then decreasing in size downstream, with 8‐, 10‐, and 12‐inch

segmentssouthoftheProjectsite.Wastewatersystemsarenormallydesignedtosteadilyincrease

9 LosAngelesDepartmentofPublicWorks,AbouttheCity’sSewerSystem,

http://www.lasewers.org/sewers/about/index.htm.2009.

IV.M.2 Wastewater


in size downstream, to accommodate a larger number of connections and increasing volume of

discharge.ThevariablesizeofthesystemintheProjectvicinitythereforeconstrainsthesystem’s

capacity,whichisnecessarilylimitedbythesmallestdiametersegments.FigureIV.M.2‐1,Project

VicinityWastewaterCollectionSystem,showstheagesanddiametersofmunicipalwastewatermain

segments adjacent to and downstream of the Project site. From the Project site, wastewater is

conveyedsouthbeneathStadiumWaytoa10‐inchlineinBernardStreetbeforesplittingintoa18‐

inchlineinAlamedaStreetanda15‐inch‐linebeneathCollegeStreet,bothofwhichthendischarge

intoa30‐inchlineinLosAngelesStreet.

b. Project Site Wastewater Collection and Conveyance

AsdiscussedinSectionII,ProjectDescription,ofthisDraftEIR,the25‐acreProjectsiteisdivided

into eastern and western parcels by StadiumWay. The eastern Project site, approximately 10.6

acres, is currently occupied by 29 buildings, including the existing hospital. The hospital and

majorityoftheexistingbuildingsontheeasternProjectsitearelocatedwithintherelativelyflator

gentlyslopedportionsof thesiteclosest toStadiumWay.Mostof thebuildingswereconstructed

before1930aspatientcottages,administrativeoffices,ormaintenance facilities for thehospital’s

predecessor, Barlow Sanatorium. The currently operational 49‐bed Barlow Respiratory Hospital

occupiesabuildingwithportionsconstructedbetween1927—1978.Fifteenoftheotherbuildings

on the easternProject site areused for additional office or storage space.The remainderof the

buildingsontheeasternProjectsitearenolongerinuseanddonotgeneratewastewater

ThewesternProjectsite,approximately14.2acres,slopessteeplyupfromStadiumWaytoElysian

ParkDriveonitseasternboundary.ThewesternProjectsitecontains10buildings, includingtwo

currentlyoccupiedsingle‐familyresidencesbuilt in1936and1940,respectively,atthetopofthe

slopeonElysianParkDrive.Eight formerpatientcottagesconstructedbefore1930arelocatedat

thebottomoftheslopealongStadiumWay.Oneformercottageiscurrentlyusedforstoragebythe

hospital;theremainingcottagesarenolongerinuseanddonotgeneratewastewater.

The existingwastewater collection system on the Project sitewas constructed in the 1930s and

consistsofanundergroundnetworkofvitrifiedclaypipes(VCP)andpolyesterresinconcrete(PRC)

pipes.Figure IV.M.2‐2,ProjectSiteWastewaterCollectionSystem,shows the locationsof existing

buildingsandtheon‐sitewastewaterpipes.Wastewaterpipes,includingthoseontheProjectsite,

are typically designed to operate via “gravity loading”, where upstream (upslope) pipes convey

wastewater flows downstream (downslope) to a point of discharge, relying only on gravity (not

pumps or other mechanical aids) for conveyance. The use of gravity systems imposes some

Figure IV.M.2-1Project Site Wastewater Collection System

Source: KPFF Consulting Engineers, 12/21/2010.

LEGEND

0 100 200

Scale (Feet)

N

IV.M.2 Wastewater


Figure IV.M.2-2Project Vicinity Wastewater Collection System

Source: KPFF Consulting Engineers, 12/21/2010.

Not to Scale

N

IV.M.2 Wastewater


IV.M.2 Wastewater


constraints on system design; pipes must have enough relative difference in elevation between

points of building connection and discharge to ensure adequate slope, flow, and capacity for the

buildingsserved.

As previously noted, the eastern Project’s site, which contains the existing hospital, is currently

servedbysixactivesewerlateralsofvaryinglength,size,andslope.Thelongestlateral,servingthe

majority of the eastern Project site, begins at BuildingNo. 10, east of the hospital, travels south

approximately700feetthroughthecenterofthesite,andturnswestthroughtheexistingparking

lot, terminating in the municipal wastewater main beneath Stadium Way. This 8‐inch lateral

receivesdischargesfromannetworkoffour‐,six‐andeight‐inchlinesthatservethebuildingsinthe

centeroftheeasternProjectsiteaswellasBuildingNos.6,11,12,21,and25.Theremainingfour

activelateralsontheeasternProjectsiteconsistof8‐inchVCPlinesthatprovidedirectconnections

betweenbuildingsthatfrontonStadiumWayandthewastewatermainbeneathStadiumWay.

ThewesternProjectsitehastwoactiveVCPlateralsofeightinchesand15inchesindiameterthat

connectdirectlytothewastewatermainbeneathStadiumWay.Theselateralsservethebuildings

frontingonStadiumWayandarealsobelievedtoservethetwosingle‐familyresidencesatthetop

oftheslopeonElysianParkDrive.

c. Wastewater Treatment

theCityofLosAngelesDepartmentofPublicWorks,BureauofSanitation,ownsandoperatesfour

wastewater treatmentandwater reclamation facilities:. theHyperionTreatmentPlant, located in

Playa del Rey; two partial treatment/reclamation plants located inland (the Tillman Water

ReclamationPlantinVanNuysandtheLosAngeles‐GlendaleWaterReclamationPlantnearGriffith

Park); and theTerminal IslandWaterReclamation Plant. TheBureau of Sanitation also operates

two ocean outfalls; 48 pumping plants in low‐lying communities; and an array of wastewater

system connections and major interceptors. These facilities collect and treat sewage generated

throughouttheCityofLosAngelesaswellascitiesthatcontractfortheseservices.TheLosAngeles

areaisdividedintotwomajorserviceareas,theHyperionTreatmentAreaandtheTerminalIsland

Servicearea;theProjectsiteislocatedwithintheHyperionTreatmentArea.

WastewatergeneratedontheProjectsiteisconveyedapproximately21milesto,andistreatedat,

Hyperion Treatment Plant, the largest of the three treatment plants in the Hyperion Treatment

System.TheHyperionTreatmentPlantservesthecentralLosAngelesarea,treatsexcessflowsfrom

the Los Angeles‐GlendaleWater Reclamation Plant, and processes solids generated by the City’s

other treatment/reclamation plants. Opened in 1950, Hyperion Treatment Plant can now

IV.M.2 Wastewater


accommodate a total average flow of 450 million gallons per day (mgd) under dry weather

conditions andup to onebillion gallons per dayduringpeakwet‐weather flow conditions. As of

2010,HyperionTreatmentPlanttreatedanaverageof300mgd,foraremainingcapacityofupto

150mgd.10

Basedonthelatestdataavailable,theaveragedryweatherflowfortheentireCityserviceareais

approximately380mgd,or180mgdbelowthedesigncapacityof560mgd forall threeplants.11

Thisexcesscapacity isdue, inpart, towaterconservationmeasuresnowrequiredpertheCityof

Los Angeles Uniform Building Code, since wastewater flows are directly proportional to water

usage.

With theapprovalof the2006 IntegratedResourcePlan, the capacityatHyperion in conjunction

with other relief wastewater treatment facilities is expected to provide sufficient wastewater

treatmentcapacityfortheserviceareathroughtheyear2020.

d. Wastewater Generation and Conveyance Capacity

i. Project Site

The total sewage generation of existing uses on theProject site, based on the generation factors

defined by the City of Los Angeles in the Los Angeles CEQA Thresholds Guide, is approximately

16,067 gallons per day (gpd) (.016mgd). Refer toTable IV.M.2‐1, ExistingBarlowMaster Plan

Sewer Load Summary, for a detailed breakdown of wastewater generation under existing

conditions.Asshowninthetable,anumberoftheexistingon‐sitebuildingsarenotcurrentlyinuse

anddonotgeneratewastewater.

ii. Project Area

As previously stated, the wastewater main beneath Stadium Way adjacent to and south of the

Projectsitevaries indiameter,withsegmentsof8 inches,12 inches,and15 inches.Basedonthe

City’s established design capacity requirements forwastewaterpipes, limitingpeak flows to less

than fifty percent of pipe depth, the maximum allowable design capacity of the 15‐inch pipe is

approximately2.19mgd.However,sincethesmallest‐diametersegmentofthewastewatermainin

10 CityofLosAngeles,DepartmentofPublicWorks,BureauofSanitation,Five‐YearStrategicPlan,FiscalYears2010/11‐

2014/15,14.http://www.ci.la.ca.us/san/general_info/pdfs/Strategic_Plan_10‐11_Final.pdf.2010.11 City of Los Angeles, Department of PublicWorks, Bureau of Sanitation,WastewaterEngineering ServicesDivision,

SewageTreatmentPlantFlowData,2005–2006,(2006).

IV.M.2 Wastewater


Table IV.M.2‐1

Existing Barlow Master Plan Sewer Load Summary

Buildings TypeDescription Amounts UnitsGenerationFactor(gal/day/perunit)

DailyGeneration(gal/day)

1 Office 2,559 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf 3842 Hospital/Medical

Building47,014 gsf 250gpd/1000gsf. 11,754

2A MedicalBuilding 1,804 gsf 250gpd/1000gsf 4513 Office 2,072 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf 3114 Office 1,392 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf 2095 Office 4,537 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf 6806 Maintenance 1,696 gsf 80gpd/1000gsf 1367 a ‐ ‐ 8 Office 1,505 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf 2269 Office 5,841 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf 87610 Storage 575 gsf 20gpd/1000gsf 1111 a ‐ ‐ 12 Office 808 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf. 12113 a ‐ ‐ 14 ‐ ‐ ‐ 15 Office 648 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf 9716 Office 783 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf 11817 a ‐ ‐ 18 a ‐ ‐ 19 a ‐ ‐ 20 a ‐ ‐ 21 a ‐ ‐ 22 a ‐ ‐ 23 a ‐ ‐ 24 a ‐ ‐ 25 a ‐ ‐ 26 Storage 685 gsf 20gpd/1000gsf 1427 Maintenance 773 gsf 80gpd/1000gsf 6228 Maintenance 2,164 gsf 80gpd/1000gsf 17329 a ‐ ‐ 30 a ‐ ‐ 31 a ‐ ‐ 32 a ‐ ‐ 33 a ‐ ‐ 34 a ‐ ‐ 35 a ‐ ‐ 36 Office 824 gsf 150gpd/1000gsf 12437 Residential 1 du 160gpd/du 16038 Residential 1 du 160gpd/du 160

Total 16,067 aNotinuse.Notes:gal–gallons;gsf=grosssquarefeet;du=dwellingunits.Source:CityofLosAngeles,LosAngelesCEQAThresholdsGuide,2006WastewaterGenerationFactors.

IV.M.2 Wastewater


the Project vicinity is only 8 inches in diameter, this segment necessarily constrainswastewater

systemcapacityupstream.Themaximumallowable(i.e.,fiftypercent)designcapacityofthe8‐inch

pipeisapproximately363,000gpd,andasofNovember2009approximatelyflowlevelsinthepipe

weregaugedatapproximately22percentofpipedepth.12

4 IMPACT ANALYSIS

a. Methodology

The analysis in this section is based, in part, on the technical report prepared for theProject by

KPFF Consulting Engineers. Information regarding existing publicwastewater pipe location, age,

andcapacitywasprovidedbytheBureausofEngineeringandSanitationoftheCityofLosAngeles

DepartmentofPublicWorksbasedontheSCAR,publishedreports,as‐builtplansandothersources.

This analysis compares wastewater generation projected for the proposed Project to existing

wastewater generation on the Project site, based on established City of Los Angeleswastewater

generation factors, and determines the capacity of the existing public wastewater conveyance

systemtoaccommodateProjectincreasesinwastewatergeneration.

b. Significance Thresholds

AppendixGof theStateCEQAGuidelinesprovides sample checklistquestions foruse inan Initial

Study to determine a project’s potential for environmental impacts. According to the applicable

questions13 contained in Appendix G under Section XVII, Utilities and Service Systems, a project

wouldhaveapotentiallysignificantimpactifitwould:

XVII.a) Exceedwastewater treatment requirementsof theapplicableRegionalWaterQuality

ControlBoard;

XVII.b) Require or result in the construction of new wastewater treatment facilities or

expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause significant

environmentaleffects;or14

12 Correspondence fromBrent Lorscheider,DivisionManager, City of LosAngeles,WastewaterEngineering Services

DivisionoftheBureauofSanitation,DepartmentofPublicWorks,November10,2009.13 Appendix G Utilities and Service Systems sample questions (XVI.b (in part), and –d through ‐g) pertain towater

supplyandsolidwasteandareaddressedinSectionsIV.L.1,WaterSupply,andIV.L.3,SolidWaste.SamplequestionXVI.cpertainstohydrologyandisaddressedinSectionIV.G,SurfaceWaterHydrologyandWaterQuality.

14 Sample question XVI.b addresses the construction of new water and wastewater treatment facilities and theexpansionof existing facilities. Assuch, this samplechecklistquestion isalsodiscussed inSection IV.L‐1,WaterSupplyofthisDraftEIR.

IV.M.2 Wastewater


XVII.e) Result in a determination by thewastewater treatment provider that serves ormay

serve the project that it has inadequate capacity to serve the project’s projected

demandinadditiontotheprovider’sexistingcommitments.

The factors used in the City of Los Angeles CEQA Thresholds Guide to determine significant

wastewater impacts incorporate themoregeneralchecklistquestionscontainedinAppendixGof

theStateCEQAGuidelines.Therefore,basedonthemorespecificCityofLosAngelesCEQAThresholds

Guide,theproposedProjectwouldhaveasignificantwastewaterimpactif:

WW‐1 TheProjectwouldcausemeasurableincreaseinwastewaterflowsatapointwhere,

andatatimewhen,asewer’scapacityisalreadyconstrainedorthatwouldcausea

sewer’scapacitytobecomeconstrained;

WW‐2 The Project’s additional wastewater flows would substantially or incrementally

exceedthefuturescheduledcapacityofanyonetreatmentplantbygeneratingflows

greaterthanthoseanticipatedintheWastewaterFacilitiesPlanorGeneralPlanand

itselements;or

WW‐3 The Projectwould result in exceedance ofwastewater treatment requirements of

theapplicableRegionalWaterQualityControlBoard.

c. Project Design Features

Barlow Hospital has committed to the following water conservationmeasures for the proposed

Project,bythedateofProjectbuildout:

• Bathroom faucets: 1.5 gallons per minute (GPM) (residential/private); 0.5 GPM

(hospital/public)

• Kitchenfaucets:1.5GPM

• Low‐flowshowerheads:2.0GPM,nomorethan1showerheadperstall

• High‐efficiencyclotheswashers(residential):watersavingsfactorof5.0orless

• High‐efficiencytoilets:1.28gallonsperflushorless,ordualflush

• High‐efficiency/ultra‐lowwaterurinals:0.125to0.5gallonsperflush

IV.M.2 Wastewater


• Energystardishwashers

• High‐efficiencyclotheswashers(commercial):watersavingsfactoror7.5orless

• Pre‐rinsekitchensprayhead

• Publicrestroomself‐closingfaucets

• Domesticwaterheatingsystemincloseproximitytopoint(s)ofuse

• Tanklessandon‐demandwaterheaters

• Rotatingsprinklernozzlesforlandscapeirrigation:0.5GPM

• Weather‐basedirrigationcontroller

• Micro‐spray

• Bubblerirrigation

• Properhydro‐zoning(i.e.,groupplantswithsimilarwaterrequirementstogether)

• Zonedirrigation

• Landscapecontouringtominimizeprecipitationrunoff

• Drought‐tolerantplants:75percentoftotalnewlandscapeplantings

• CoolingtowerconductivitycontrollersorcoolingtowerpHconductivitycontrollers(cooling

towerstooperateataminimumof5.5cyclesofconcentration)

• Water‐savingpoolfilter

• Reclaimedwatersystemforirrigation

• Convertcoolingtowersto100percentreclaimedwateruse,aspermittedbylaw

TheproposedProjectalsowouldcomplywiththerequiredStandardUrbanStormWaterMitigation

Plan(SUSMP)andwouldimplementBestManagementPracticesthathavestormwaterrechargeor

reusebenefits.

IV.M.2 Wastewater


d. Project Impacts

WW‐1 WouldtheproposedProjectcausemeasurableincreaseinwastewaterflows

at a point where, and at a time when, a sewer’s capacity is already

constrainedorthatwouldcauseasewer’scapacitytobecomeconstrained?

WW‐2 Would theproposedProject’s additionalwastewater flowssubstantiallyor

incrementally exceed the future scheduled capacity of any one treatment

plantbygeneratingflowsgreaterthanthoseanticipatedintheWastewater

FacilitiesPlanorGeneralPlananditselements?

i. Construction Impacts

Project implementation would involve the construction of a new on‐site wastewater system to

service the proposed replacement hospital, skilled nursing facility, 868 condominium units, 20

residential townhomes, commercialuses, andadaptive reuseof existingbuildings.Newbuildings

wouldbeconstructedonboththeeasternandwesternProjectsites.Projectimplementationwould

necessitateupgradingProjectsiteexistingconnections(laterals)totheexistingpublicwastewater

mainbeneathStadiumWay,and/oranincreaseinthevolumeofwastewatercurrentlydischarged

to the public water system by on‐site uses. Additionally, during construction of the proposed

Project, it is anticipated that construction contractorswould provide portable, on‐site sanitation

facilities that would be regularly serviced at approved disposal facilities located off‐site.

Constructionactivitieswould,therefore,havenoimpactontheProjectsite’swastewatercollection

system.

New and/or upgraded lateral connections to the StadiumWay sewer main associated with the

proposedprojectwould require construction activities that could affect themain. However, any

sucheffectswouldbetemporaryandwouldoccurinaccordancewithallapplicableregulationsas

enforced under required LADPW construction permits. Because these requirements have been

formulated to avoid significant impacts, suchasdisruptionsof sewer service to existingadjacent

usesand/or sewagespillsduring the constructionperiod,project construction impactswouldbe

lessthansignificant

ii. Operational Impacts

Wastewater generation associated with the proposed Project was calculated using the sewer

generation factors contained in the City of Los Angeles CEQA Thresholds Guide. Project

implementationwould increase thenumberofwastewatergenerationsourceson theProjectsite

IV.M.2 Wastewater


throughan increase inhospitalbeds, the introductionofa24‐bedskillednursingfacility,andthe

construction of residential units, including kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities, and

commercial uses. As a result, Project implementation would increase the volume of wastewater

generated on the Project site and discharged to the public system. Table IM.M.2‐2, Projected

Wastewater Discharges, shows the projected wastewater discharge volumes. The Project is

projected to generate approximately 157,236 gpd of wastewater, for a net increase of

approximately 141,169 gpd over existing conditions. This represents approximately 5 percent of

themaximumallowabledesigncapacityofthe15‐inchwastewatermainbeneathStadiumWayand

approximately 43 percent of the maximum allowable design capacity of the 8‐inch wastewater

main, and both wastewater pipes would therefore continue to operate below the maximum

allowable design capacity. The Bureau of Sanitation has also indicated that there is sufficient

capacity inthewastewatersystemtoaccommodatetheanticipatedProjectwastewaterflows.15,16

Therefore, although the Project would result in an increase in wastewater flows into the

wastewater system, the system isnotpresently constrainedand theProjectwouldnot cause the

systemtobecomeconstrained. Therefore,projectimpactsonwastewaterpipecapacitywouldbe

lessthansignificant.

WW‐3 Would the Project result in exceedance of wastewater treatment

requirementsoftheapplicableRegionalWaterQualityControlBoard

As stated previously, wastewater from the Project site is currently, and would continue to be,

conveyedby thepublicwastewater system to theHyperionTreatmentPlant.Theplantcurrently

processed average daily flows of 300 mgd and has the capacity to treat up to 450 mgd. The

proposed Project would represent a minor incremental increase in the volume of wastewater

treatedatHyperion,andtheBureauofEngineeringhasconcurredthatsufficientcapacityexistsat

Hyperion to treat Project‐generated wastewater flows. Since the Project would not exceed the

capacityofHyperionorgenerateflowsgreaterthanthoseanticipatedintheWastewaterFacilities

PlanorGeneralPlan,impactswouldbelessthansignificant.

e. Mitigation Measures

The proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts with respect to wastewater

collectionorconveyancesystemsortreatmentcapacityandnomitigationisrequired.

15 Correspondence fromBrent Lorscheider,DivisionManager, City of LosAngeles,WastewaterEngineering Services

DivisionoftheBureauofSanitation,DepartmentofPublicWorks,November10,2009.16 CityofLosAngeles,BureauofEngineering,DepartmentofPublicWorks,SewerCapacityAvailabilityRequest(SCAR)

no.21‐1369‐0510(resubmitted5/13/10as18‐1201‐0509),approvedJune4,2010.

IV.M.2 Wastewater


Table IV.M.2‐2

Projected Wastewater Discharges

Type Amounts Units General Factor

(gal/day/per unit) Daily Generation

(gal/day) Existing

ExistingBuildingstobeDemolished ‐ ‐ ‐ 14,771

ExistingBuildingstoRemain(HistoricCore):2A,3,15,16,17,18,20,37,and38

‐ ‐ ‐ 1,296

Total(Existing) 16,067

Proposed

Hospital(56Beds)/SkilledNursingFacility(24Beds)/AdministrationandSupportFacility

120,000 gsf 250gpd/1000sq.ft. 30,000

Condos(2‐Bedroom) 435 du 160gpd/du 69,600

Condos(1‐Bedroom) 435 du 120gpd/du 52,200

Townhomes 18 du 230/du 4,140

ExistingBuildingstoRemain

Total(Proposed) 155,940

1,296

Total(ExistingtoRemain+Proposed) 157,236

NetIncrease 141,169 Source:KPFFConsultingEngineers;WastewaterAssessmentprepared for theProjectbyTheBureauof Sanitationof theDepartmentofPublicWorks,CityofLosAngeles,October2010. Notes:gsf=grosssquarefeet;du=dwellingunits..

f. Level of Significance After Mitigation

Projectimpactswithrespecttowastewatersystemcapacitywouldbelessthansignificantandno

mitigationisrequired.

g. Cumulative Impacts

As stated in Section2.c.,PlannedCapital Improvements, every 10 years, the City of Los Angeles

updatesits10‐YearCapitalImprovementProgramtoaddressplannedreplacementandexpansion

ofthewastewatercollectionsystemandtreatmentfacilitieswithinitsservicearea;improvements

arethencarriedoutbytheBureausofSanitationandEngineering.Themostrecentupdatedefines

improvementsscheduledthrough2016.Moreover,theSecondarySewerRenewalProgram,which

identifiessubstandardsecondarysewers, includesplannedupgradestothewastewatersystemin

IV.M.2 Wastewater


theProjectarea(e.g.,CityprojectSSRPN13).These improvementscommencedinFebruary2011

andareexpectedtobecompletebyJune2012,andareintendedtoensurethewastewatersystemin

theProjectareaisabletoaccommodatepresentandfuturewastewaterflows.17Finally,theProject

siteisthemostupstreampointofconnectiontothepublicsewerbeneathStadiumWaythatserves

the site, and no other properties discharge wastewater to this sewer. All the related projects

definedinSectionII,EnvironmentalSetting,ofthisDraftEIRarelocateddownstreamoftheProject

site.

According to the technical studies prepared for this analysis by the Project civil engineer and

correspondencefromtheCityofLosAngeles,theexistingsewersystemandwastewatertreatment

plantservingtheProjectsitehaveadequatecapacitytoaccommodateProject‐generatedincreases

inwastewaterflowsunderexistingconditions,andwillcontinuetodosofollowingplannedsewer

improvements in the Project area. The downstream trunk and interceptor mains that convey

Projectwastewater flows toHyperion Treatment Plant likewise have adequate capacity, as does

Hyperion.Forthesereasons,theproposedProject,consideredtogetherwithrelatedprojects,would

notresultinacumulativelyconsiderablecontributiontocumulativelysignificantimpactsrelatedto

thesewersystemcapacityorwastewatertreatmentcapacity.

17 KPFFConsultingEngineers,pers.com.,February28,2012(basedonlatestCityofLosAngelesProjectInformation

ReportforSSRPN13)

iv.m.2 wastewater (3rd screencheck) - los...

Documents