Storage Seen As Solution For Sewer Overflow
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Final resolutions for improvements to Warsaw's combined sewer overflow system were completed recently during a meeting held by Dave Henderson, department head of the city's Wastewater Works Department.
Henderson and Brian Houghton, a Fort Wayne environmental engineer, reported a decision to request approval from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for a new storage procedure for the Warsaw CSO system.
The fourth and final wastewater meeting was used to finish up Warsaw's request to IDEM, and also to update cost estimates for the new storage unit. The IDEM request was sent for approval.
Houghton predicted the improvements would cost the city $2.1 million.
"Storage seemed to be the most feasible alternative and the best option for the city," Houghton said. "Other means for sewer correction were either more costly or would disrupt the system during improvements."
The proposed storage would create a system that could capture up to 100 percent of any overflow the city might experience. A tank, which could be as large as a 170,000 gallon storage unit, is purposed to be installed near a current overflow structure near the intersection of Market and Columbia Streets.
Based on measurements from the wastewater department, an overflow event would occur in Warsaw after the city experienced 1.88 inches of rainfall over the course of one hour. For 2005, the highest amount of precipitation recorded was .46 inches over a one hour period.
If and when an overflow event occurs, the new system would hold the surplus water and drain towards the treatment plant after the storm ceased.
"Warsaw's model looks good, but I'd like to see higher storm events for better accuracy in our overflow estimates," Houghton said. "Overall, I believe the request to be generally acceptable, but I'm sure IDEM will have things to add and improve."
If accepted, Houghton reported the improvement project would take an estimated three years to finalize.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins, who was present at the meeting, said Umbaugh and Associates, of Plymouth, would report next week on the financial status of the wastewater department before a decision was made as to whether sewer rates would be raised to pay for the new construction.
"For Warsaw's size, the current state of the system is in rather good shape," Houghton said. "Most communities have multiple overflow systems that discharge almost every rainfall. What Warsaw is dealing with, in my opinion, is fairly simple." [[In-content Ad]]
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Final resolutions for improvements to Warsaw's combined sewer overflow system were completed recently during a meeting held by Dave Henderson, department head of the city's Wastewater Works Department.
Henderson and Brian Houghton, a Fort Wayne environmental engineer, reported a decision to request approval from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for a new storage procedure for the Warsaw CSO system.
The fourth and final wastewater meeting was used to finish up Warsaw's request to IDEM, and also to update cost estimates for the new storage unit. The IDEM request was sent for approval.
Houghton predicted the improvements would cost the city $2.1 million.
"Storage seemed to be the most feasible alternative and the best option for the city," Houghton said. "Other means for sewer correction were either more costly or would disrupt the system during improvements."
The proposed storage would create a system that could capture up to 100 percent of any overflow the city might experience. A tank, which could be as large as a 170,000 gallon storage unit, is purposed to be installed near a current overflow structure near the intersection of Market and Columbia Streets.
Based on measurements from the wastewater department, an overflow event would occur in Warsaw after the city experienced 1.88 inches of rainfall over the course of one hour. For 2005, the highest amount of precipitation recorded was .46 inches over a one hour period.
If and when an overflow event occurs, the new system would hold the surplus water and drain towards the treatment plant after the storm ceased.
"Warsaw's model looks good, but I'd like to see higher storm events for better accuracy in our overflow estimates," Houghton said. "Overall, I believe the request to be generally acceptable, but I'm sure IDEM will have things to add and improve."
If accepted, Houghton reported the improvement project would take an estimated three years to finalize.
Mayor Ernie Wiggins, who was present at the meeting, said Umbaugh and Associates, of Plymouth, would report next week on the financial status of the wastewater department before a decision was made as to whether sewer rates would be raised to pay for the new construction.
"For Warsaw's size, the current state of the system is in rather good shape," Houghton said. "Most communities have multiple overflow systems that discharge almost every rainfall. What Warsaw is dealing with, in my opinion, is fairly simple." [[In-content Ad]]