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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