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CE 3372 Water Systems DesignLecture 002: History of Water Systems; Land Development Vocabulary

+Outline

A Brief History of Water Systems

Development Vocabulary

Municipal Utility Districts/ Bonds

Design Guidelines

Cost Estimation/Bids

Basics to Land Development Process

+Water Control Systems

Spatial and temporal distribution of surface runoff from rainfall events (drainage engineering) Flood control Storm water harvesting

Capacity is based on AREA served hydrology dominated designs

+Water Use Systems

Spatial and temporal distribution in support of human habitation Water supply/treatment/distribution Waste water collection/treatment/discharge

Capacity is based on POPULATION served hydraulic dominated designs

+Environmental Restoration Systems

Systems to manage spatial and temporal distribution in support of non-human habitation Create “desirable” conditions

“Desirable” <= Policy <= Value Judgment

+Brief History of Water Systems

This brief history is adapted from “Historical Urban Water Systems” by Dr. Robert Pitt, Department of Civil

and Environmental Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487

As we proceed through the history, consider whether the picture is a water control, water use, or environmental restoration system.

+Brief History of Water Systems

Drinking Water

+Brief History of Water Systems

Storm Water

+Brief History of Water Systems

Waste Water

+Brief History of Water Systems

Conduits

+Brief History of Water Systems

Pumps

+Brief History of Water Systems

Storage

+VOCABULARY!!!!

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Easement – An easement is a permanent right authorizing a person or party to use the land or property of another for a particular purpose.

Right of Way (ROW) – Is the actual land area acquired for a specific purpose. Can be acquired by grants/long usage agreements. Most common for roads/paths. (example on board). Landowners paid a one-time payment based on fair market

value for easement rights. Landowners continue to pay property tax on ROW.

Utility Easement - Acquires certain rights to build and maintain power lines. Almost everyone’s backyard has a Utility Easement.

Easements

+Lots and Plats

A lot is a tract or parcel of land owned or meant to be owned by some owner.

Plat – Is a scaled map that shows the divisions of a piece of land. Done when landowner wants to divide land into smaller

parcels (homes/apts/etc.) Designates roads/ROW Dedicates land for public uses Ensures compliance with zoning Done through Surveying – Metes and Bounds After plat is filed, reviewed and approved, legal descriptions

can refer to block and lot-numbers.

+Plat

+Metes and Bounds

Is a method for describing the lines which bound a parcel of real estate.

Begins at a known landmark for a place of beginning (POB), then follows a line according to the compass-needle, and traces the boundary returning to POB

Metes refers to a boundary defined by the measurement of each straight run, specified by a distance between the terminal points, with an orientation or direction.

Bounds refers to a more general boundary Condition

+Metes and Bounds

+Topo and Key Maps Topographic map – is a type of map characterized by

detailed, accurate graphic representations of features that appear on the Earth's surface showing quantitative representation of relief, using contour lines.

Features include: cultural: roads, buildings, urban development, railways,

airports, names of places and geographic features, administrative boundaries, state and international borders, reserves

hydrography: lakes, rivers, streams, swamps, coastal flats relief: mountains, valleys, slopes, depressions vegetation: wooded/cleared areas, vineyards and

orchards.

Key Map – “Houston’s official atlas” Helps clarify project location

+FEMA, FIRM, BFE

FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency Under Department of Homeland Security Main focus is to coordinate response to a major disaster

FIRM – Flood Insurance Rate Map The official map of a community on which FEMA has

delineated both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.

BFE – Base Flood Elevation Is the regulatory requirement for the elevation or

floodproofing of structures. The relationship between the BFE and a structure's elevation determines the flood insurance premium.

+MUDS and BONDS!

+Municipal Utility Districts (Texas)

MUD - Municipal Utility District (MUD) Is a political subdivision of the State of Texas

authorized by the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide water, sewage, drainage and other services within the MUD boundaries.

MUDs have authority to levy taxes within the MUD boundaries (and can even tax residents who do not receive any services)

+How to Create a MUD (1)

A majority of property owners in the proposed district petitions the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality to create a MUD. The TCEQ evaluates the petition, holds a public

hearing, and grants or denies the petition. After approval, the TCEQ appoints five temporary

members to the MUD's Board of Directors, until an election is called to elect permanent Board members, to confirm the MUD's creation, and to authorize bonds and taxing authority for bond repayment.

+How to Create a MUD (2)

Developers petition the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality to create a MUD. Developers are prohibited from serving or placing employees, business associates, or family members on the MUD Board of Directors. Developers must pay for or put up a letter of credit

equal to 30% of the cost of subdivision utilities. This requirement ensures against "fly-by-night operators" who are not committed to the success of the MUD.

The "30% rule" also offers protection to MUD residents in the event that a subdivision is not built according to schedule.

+How to Create a MUD (2)

After approval, the TCEQ appoints five temporary members to the MUD's Board of Directors, until an election is called to elect permanent Board members, to confirm the MUD's creation, and to authorize bonds and taxing authority for bond repayment.

Unless they are voting residents within a MUD, developers have no authority or control over the MUD's Board of Directors.

This “way of making MUD” is by far the most common in Texas. Developer creates the MUD, sells properties in the district, then when build out is complete, leaves MUD behind for the residents to operate.

+MUD operations

The publically elected Board of Directors manages and controls all of the affairs of the MUD subject to the continuing supervision of the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality.

The Board establishes policies in the interest of its residents and utility customers.

A MUD may adopt and enforce all necessary charges, fees and taxes in order to provide district facilities and services.

+MUD operations

If a MUD sells bonds (borrows money), those are repaid by charges, fees, and taxes.

MUD tax rates, like all property tax rates, vary according to property values and debt requirements. MUD rates generally decline over time as the MUD is built out and operating and debt service costs are shared by more homeowners.

+Bonds

A municipal bond is a bond issued by a local government, or their agencies.

Municipal bonds are securities that are issued for the purpose of financing the infrastructure needs of the issuing municipality.

These needs vary greatly but can include schools, streets and highways, bridges, hospitals, public housing, sewer, water systems, power utilities, and various public projects.

+Bonds

Municipal bond holders may purchase bonds either directly from the issuer at the time of issuance (on the primary market), or from other bond holders at some time after issuance (on the secondary market).

In exchange for an upfront investment of capital, the bond holder receives payments over time composed of interest on the invested principal, and a return of the invested principal itself (see bond).

+Design Guidelines!

+Design Design is the management of constraints

Non-negotiable constraints are dictated by laws of physics, chemistry (and to some extent mankind).

Negotiable constraints are the design variables that can be adjusted to satisfy the non-negotiable constraints.

Negotiable Money Time Aesthetics (Pipe Alignment/Channel geometry) Performance

Non-negotiable Physics (Water flows downhill, unless power & money are

applied) Chemistry

+Frequency Based Design

Design to accommodate an event of some pre-determined probability (return frequency). Assume that more frequent events are also accommodated.

You did frequency analysis in hydrology! T-year event

+Risk Based Design

Design to accommodate some pre-determined expected net loss. Expected loss is product of the probability of failure and the

cost of that failure.

Design to minimize the sum of initial cost and expected loss

You did elements of risk analysis in hydrology, namely the probability portion.

+Critical-Event Design

Design to accommodate largest anticipated event. Applied for systems where consequences of failure are

huge (economically and/or politically) Large dams, nuclear power plants

Assumes the event is anticipated Earthquake + Tsunami + Pump Failure combined were not

anticipated (actually they were, just no-one paid attention!)

+Design Manuals

Where do we get the guidance documents? Texas Administrative Code

Part 1, Chapters 30 and 31 cover nearly all of what we might do as municipal water engineers

Large diameter pipelines like the Lake Allen Henry to Lubbock are outside the scope of the code and are governed by broader guidance – these kinds of projects are uncommon and likely closely follow the intent of the TAC as appropriate.

+Design Manuals

Where do we get the guidance documents? Flood Control Districts

+Design Manuals

Where do we get the guidance documents? Local Jurisdictions

+Design Manuals

Where do we get the guidance documents? Professional Organizations

Not everything is free – this MOP would be vital to a practicing engineer, but he/she would have to pay for it

+Design Manuals

Where do we get the guidance documents? Professional Publications

– Often these publications are eventually integrated into jurisdictional design manuals.

– The example shown is the source of minimum sewer velocity criteria in the USA

+Design Manuals

Where do we get the guidance documents? Vendor/Trade Organization Publications

+Resources

Design uses hydrologic and geologic data and various analysis tools USGS: topography, streamflow, computer programs NRCS: soil maps, land use, computer programs US EPA: rules, chemical properties, computer

programs NCDC: rainfall, snowfall, solar radiation USBR: Western US water and energy supply USACOE: Navigable waterways, computer programs FHWA: design manuals, computer programs

+Resources

TWDB: Funding (for cities and water districts) TCEQ: Rules, guidelines, some data TNRIS: Evaporation estimates, digital

elevation models, digital ortho-quadrant maps, false IR images, etc.

TxDOT: Design manuals, some data, computer programs

County: Rules, design manuals, some operate rainfall-stage networks

Cities: Rules, design manuals

+Resources

Various analysis tools Google FEMA River authorities Drainage districts Flood control districts Irrigation districts Council of Governments (COGs)

+Data

Most data are NOT free Agencies charge a fee for data, usually pretty small. NCDC is worst offender of taking the fee, then providing the

wrong data, so be sure you know what you want. A lot of useful data are currently free, but don’t get

offended if in the future you expected to pay for it.

+Cost Estimation

+Cost Estimating Is the approximation of the cost of a program, project, or

operation, estimated by the engineer. Includes: Planning and feasibility studies Engineering services (Design/Meetings/Reports etc.) Surveying Construction, including materials, equipment, and labor Field inspection

To manage liability: Some firms avoid “estimate” and use “Opinion of Probable

Cost” Recommend adding “Preliminary” to all estimates before final

cost A contingency is usually included in an estimate to provide for

unknown costs which are indicated as likely to occur by experience, but are not identifiable.

Cost Estimate also pre-determines how much time and money you, the engineer, need to “finish” the project.

+Cost Estimation

A cost estimate is usually prepared to submit a bid or tender to compete for a contract award.

How to build a cost estimate? Practice and research! (Previous awarded bids,

manufacturers) We will give y’all a go by for the projects

NOTE* Preliminary cost estimates are usually rounded to the

nearest thousand. Gives developers a basic number. Final cost estimates for bids are exact and to the tee.

+Bids What is a Bid? – A bid is an offer.

Engineers design and produce bid documents (lawyer jargon), including construction drawings and technical specifications, more commonly called “bid and specs”

Engineering firms are required to place an advertisement in the local paper two weeks before bid day

Upon receiving info, general contractors (if interested) will bid to construct the project.

Bidding Facts: Bidding can be open or closed (selected contractors). All bids must be turned in by time selected. Bids are opened with contractors in the selected room by a PE only

AFTER selected time. Bids MUST be read aloud. Required Documentation and any discrepancy must be noted. Usually lowest bid is chosen or contractor based on

history/preference Developer has the right to refuse all bids.

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Basics to Land Development Process

+Land Development Process

Developer

Engineering Firm

Feasibility Analysis

Preliminary Design/Report

Final Design/Report

Advertise

Bid

Construction