substitute service line improves health &...
TRANSCRIPT
SUBSTITUTE SERVICE LINEIMPROVES HEALTH & SAFETY OF
HOUSTONIANS
Presented by
Daniel P. Oefner, P.E.
Supervising Engineer
Houston Water
TODAY’S JOURNEY
• About Us
• Overview
• Program Details
• Case Study
• Future of Program
• Questions
HOUSTON PUBLIC WORKS ORG CHART
Director
Chief
Administrative
Officer
Communications
Chief Operating
Officer
Financial
Management
Services
Houston
Water
Capital
Projects
Transportation
& Drainage
Operations
Building &
Development
Services
Customer
Account
Services
HOUSTON WATER ORG CHART
Houston
Water
Wastewater
Operations
Drinking Water
Operations
NEWPP
Expansion
Project
Water
Resources
Business
Services
MaintenanceExecutive
SupportOperations
Collection
System
Analysis
Construction
Management
Plant
Operations
TRADITIONAL MAINTENANCE EFFORTS
• Hydraulic Cleaning and Televising
• Repairs (open cut and trenchless)
• Rehabilitation (pipe-bursting/CIPP)
• New Construction (Capital Improvement Projects)
MAINTENANCE CHALLENGES
Back-Lot Challenges:
• Poor access
• Structural insufficiencies
• Lack of adherence to current design standards
• Encroachments of buildings, pools, landscaping, etc…
SUBSTITUTE SERVICE LINE PROGRAM (SSLP)
The primary function of the SSLP is to decommission and
abandon aging back-lot public infrastructure that present on-
going maintenance challenges which threaten the health,
safety and welfare of the citizens of Houston.
SEWER DEFINITIONS (COH – IDM, CHAPTER 8.03)
Sewer Line:
A public sewer located within public Right-Of-Way or Permanent Access Easement (PAE) / Public Utility Easement (PUE) that
is maintained and operated by the City.
Service Lead:
The sewer pipe that connects a building sewer to a sewer line that is wholly located within the public Right-Of-Way or public
easement. Such a line shall never exceed 150-feet in length, for lengths greater than 150-feet refer to definition for sewer
line. No more than the equivalent of two single-family residences may be served at one time.
Building Sewer:
The sewer pipe that connects a building to a service lead that is wholly located within the private property. If routed through
another tract of land, it shall be located in a building connection easement. If located within a private easement, the City must
be included as a third party in the easement documents. It will be owned and maintained by the owner of the property being
served. Design shall adhere to the Design Manual or Plumbing Code, whichever is more stringent.
PROJECT PHASES:
1. Project Identification
2. Public Sewer Improvements
3. Private Sewer Improvements
4. Sewer Abandonment
PROJECT IDENTIFICATION (1 OF 4)
Customer Service Requests:
While responding to immediate customer service requests, repairs are performed and
potential projects are identified
Preventative Maintenance Program:
While performing routine system maintenance, locations are identified that cannot
be easily addressed under standard contracts and alternative methods are
considered.
Legacy Projects:
Consist of past mainline projects in which sewer leads were constructed, but not
hooked up.
PUBLIC SEWER IMPROVEMENTS (2 OF 4)
Community Outreach:
Reach out to property owners, HOA’s & City Council Members and manage expectations
(multi-year process).
Preliminary Engineering Design (Phase I):
Work with engineering consultant to design wastewater project, which may include
additional improvement collaborations from Drinking Water Operations, Street & Drainage, &
Others.
Final Engineering Design (Phase II):
Includes design of sewer lines, sewer leads and cleanouts to meet current COH design
standards.
Construction (Phase III):
Contract awarded to lowest responsible Bidder. Consultant assigned to manage project.
PRIVATE SEWER IMPROVEMENTS (3 OF 4)
Community Outreach:
Once again reach out to property owners, HOA’s & City Council Members to explain project
and obtain signed ROE agreements
Engineering Design:
Work with engineering consultant to design project, including manual, lot surveys, lot
sketches, site photos and abandonment exhibits
Bid & Award Project:
Typically package smaller projects (< 1M) to elicit more competition from smaller
contactors.
Construction:
Requires licensed master plumber to oversee project and comply with plumbing code
regulations.
SSLP CONSTRUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
i. Licensed master plumber to be responsible for all aspects of the work, including entire permit application process.
ii. Journeyman plumbers, tradesman plumbers, or apprentices may be used when supervised in accordance with state law.
iii. Property owners to be notified two weeks prior to work commencing and again no later than three days prior to work
commencing.
iv. Sanitary service operation is to be maintained at all times. Any service interruptions require 48 hour advanced notice.
v. SSLP lot design sketches are meant to be used as a guide. Contractor shall field locate proposed service connections
and make provisions as needed.
vi. Existing building sewers extending to the back-lot sewer shall be cut, plugged & abandoned.
vii. All disturbed services to be restored to their original condition or better within 72 hours upon completion of the
underground activities.
viii. All construction activities for each property to be completed within 5 days from the date of mobilization, to limit impact
to customer.
SEWER ABANDONMENT (4 OF 4)
Construction:
SSLP contractor to perform public sewer abandonment as designed within the private sewer
improvement plans provided by the design consultant.
As-Builts:
As-builts are submitted to City of Houston GIS Group to update the City of Houston
Geographic Information and Management System (GIMS)
CAMP LOGAN SEWER ABANDONMENT PROJECT
• Camp Logan was a World War I era army training camp.
• The Camp was located at the far west boundary of Houston in what is now called Memorial Park.
• To facilitate the camp a wastewater collection line was constructed to divert sewage around
Houston.
• The 21” clay sewer was quickly constructed in a straight diagonal configuration from Memorial Park
towards the southeast, at minimal shallow grades across undeveloped land.
• After WW I the camp was disbanded, but the Camp Logan sewer remained in service as adjacent
neighborhoods were developed and allowed to tie to this infrastructure.
• Since many lots were developed overtop the sewer without easements, maintenance became
increasingly difficult.
• Over the years since, many sections of the Camp Logan sewer have been abandoned, and this
segment represents one of the last remaining portions needing to be addressed.
6”
6”
6”
6”
6”
6”
6”
6”
8”
27
”
27”
30”
30
”
30
”
8”
8”
8”
36
”
SSLP LOTS
SSLP LOTS
SSLP LOTS
CAMP LOGAN SEWER ABANDONMENT PROJECT
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Substitute Service Line Program (SSLP) Expenditures
Expendatures Lots
Ex
pe
nd
itu
res
(M$
)
# o
f L
ots