COMMITTEE
SUBSTITUTE FOR RESOLUTION NO. 150106
Acting
upon the recommendations of the Community Advisory Group for the development of
a Private Inflow and Infiltration Program.
WHEREAS, the
City of Kansas City, Missouri endeavors to improve the water quality of area
streams and rivers throughout the region; and
Whereas,
the City of Kansas City, Missouri entered into a consent decree on September
27, 2010 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce overflows from
the City’s combined sewer system and prevent overflows from the City’s separate
sanitary sewer systems; and
Whereas,
the overflow control measures defined in the consent decree include a
reduction in the amount of rainwater getting into the City’s sanitary sewer
systems ranging from 29% to 45% by year 2021 for systems located south of the
Missouri River and by year 2023 for systems located north of the Missouri
River; and
Whereas,
excessive amounts of rainwater getting into the City’s sewer systems can cause
wastewater to back up into buildings and the City desires to reduce the
potential for damage to property; and
Whereas,
it is a best practice to reduce inflow and infiltration in the privately-owned
portion of the wastewater collection system as well as the publicly-owned
collection system; and
Whereas,
the City desires to take a cost-effective approach in making an investment to
improve its wastewater collection system; and
WHEREAS, a
private inflow and infiltration reduction program would serve an important
public purpose; and
WHEREAS,
reduction of the amount of inflow and infiltration from private sources would
maximize the available capacity of the City’s sewer system and reduce the
amount of flow treated and the related cost of service, thereby benefiting the
City’s ratepayers; and
Whereas,
the Mayor appointed a 12-member Community Advisory Group to assist with the
development of a Private Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program by providing
policy recommendations regarding the disconnection of rainwater sources on
private property; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED
BY the Council of Kansas City:
Section 1. That
the City Manager develop a Private Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program
based on the recommendations of the Community Advisory Group as follows:
·
Propose
revisions to the City’s Code prohibiting private property rainwater connections
to the City’s sanitary sewer system;
·
Develop
a cost-effective program to disconnect rainwater sources located on private
property from the City’s sanitary sewer system;
·
Encourage
voluntary participation in a private inflow and infiltration reduction program
through public outreach and educational efforts in an effort to achieve the
percent reductions identified in the Consent Decree;
·
Encourage
voluntary participation by the City paying for some disconnection of rainwater
sources on private property when it is cost-effective to do so;
·
Develop
an inspection program to reduce the potential for reconnection of rainwater
sources to the system; and
·
Proportionally
allocate the costs to convey and treat rainwater to property owners within the
City for the cost of those services they are receiving.
Section 2. In
addition, the City Council recommends the continued exploration of a “point sale”
inspection program.
Section 3. That the Private Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program
target the disconnection of rainwater sources in the sanitary sewer system
areas identified in the City’s Overflow Control Plan and Consent Decree. The
City should consider extending the boundaries of this program to include other
sewer system areas outside of those identified in the City’s Overflow Control
Plan and Consent Decree where the benefits of disconnecting rainwater sources
justify the cost.
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