Lawrence Utility Capital Improvements Projects Update

November 18, 2020

I am pleased to inform you that our capital improvements projects are continuing at an unprecedented level here in the City.

 

With respect to our Water Utility, the following projects have been completed since September 2017”

 

  1. Sumac Lane water main replacement – replaced 1,000 lft of old water main with high main break failure rate
  2. Oaklandon Water Tower – complete rehab and new coatings inside and out; structural and safety improvements
  3. Replacement of the original (1958) Richardt Water Treatment Plant – complete replacement of the plant, aerators, backwash tank and rehabilitation of existing well houses
  4. Wellfield Improvements in Fort Harrison and Indian Lake wellfields – structural and electrical improvements at well houses, installation of emergency standby generators in each wellfield

 

The preceding projects, known as “Phase I Water System Improvements” represent $8.5 Million in improvements, with about $600,000 of that being engineering costs related to designing our “Phase II Water System Improvements”. Phase II will see over $12 Million worth of improvements, and includes the following:

 

  1. Fort Harrison Water Treatment Plant – replace existing filter gallery building, improvements to the existing pump house, rehabilitation work on the 3 Million Gallon storage tank, addition of aerators into the treatment process, increased production capacity, electrical and SCADA improvements, incidental site improvements
  2. Indian Lake Water Treatment Plant – structural and cosmetic improvements, electrical improvements, SCADA improvements
  3. Winding Ridge 1 Million Gallon storage tank – improvements to the pump house, SCADA and electricalsystems
  4. Wellfield Improvements – upgrades in the Fort and Indian Lake wellfields with respect to SCADA and electrical systems, incidental site improvements

 

These first 4 projects comprise “Contract ‘A’ of the Phase II projects. Contract ‘B’ will include additional water main replacement work at:

 

  1. 46th Street - between Franklin and Shadeland
  2. Richardt Street - from 48th to 56th
  3. Franklin Road - from 47th to 56th
  4. Hermosa/Fall Creek Road - from Indian Lake Road to dead-end

 

While Phase I was funded utilizing a State Revolving Fund loan, the improvements to the Water Utility financial condition resulted in significant upgrades in the Water Utility bond rating so that Phase II is funded via bond sale on the open market. The Phase II bond issue was for $12,395,000.

 

In addition to the Phase I & II projects, we have also been firing up our ongoing water main replacement program, funded with our Operating Capital. To date, we have completed water main replacements at:

 

  1. Franklin Road – between 45th and 47th
  2. Shadeland Way – between 56th and Mardyke Lane
  3. 47th Street – between Richardt and Franklin, including replacement of water main on Payton Street between 47th and 48th, and replacement of all the side street mains south of 47th to the dead-ends between Franklin and Richardt
  4. Brookhaven Area – Kitley, Katherine, Karen and Kenyon drives are affected in this first phase

 

With respect to items 3 & 4 above, please note that we will, over time, continue to replace mains in these areas until they are all completed. These mains represent most of the oldest parts of our water distribution infrastructure and are most in need of replacement. Heavy iron buildup, smaller diameter mains and defective valves and hydrants all contribute to the need to pursue our water main replacement program.

 

In 2021 we will be launching some additional projects.

 

  1. Maple Lane, Zoeller Ave. and Wallingwood Drive, all streets with older, small diameter mains will all see water main replacements. This work will include new mains, replacement of service lines from the new main to new meter pits for each property (all meters will eventually be located outside in meter pits for convenience and ease of access) and will also require some limited drainage improvements. At the present time, there does not appear to be much need for right of way drainage improvements in Maple Lane or Zoeller Avenue.
  • For Wallingwood Drive where there are significant drainage issues, will see ditch re-grading work and the removal and replacement of certain driveway culverts with defective or undersized pipes. Those properties that will get new culvert pipes will also have new driveway approaches in the right of way installed. As much as possible, yards where the open ditch was piped and backfilled will not be altered. However, if the pipe is broken down not able to convey water, these yards will be returned to open ditch with slopes graded so as to allow for ease of mowing and maintenance.
  • The streets in each of these areas will not be simply patched after the work is completed, but at a minimum will be milled and resurfaced. Due to the condition of the pavement on Wallingwood Drive, the street pavement will have a more extensive reconstruction. In addition, sanitary sewer manhole issues will be addressed on each street as needed.
  • It is important to note that, until the survey work is completed and we get into the design work, the extent and nature of the drainage improvements is simply not known. Although our visual inspections led to the above conclusions, we will rely on site survey data and base the extent and nature of the required improvements on solid data with the goal being to provide a functioning drainage system at the lowest cost while seeking to minimize construction related impacts on affected properties.

 

  1. 5400 Carroll Road – in this area we will be building an extension to provide domestic water availability along with fire protection in an area presently without access to city water. This project will also eliminate two dead-ended water mains, which require frequent flushing and pose hydraulic issues in the water system.

 

  1. 52nd Street Elevated Storage Tank – this tank had an exterior recoating completed in 2014 but the tank was in need of an interior recoating as well as safety and structural improvements. This project will complete what was left uncompleted in 2014 and extend the life of the tank. The project will also include an exterior wash-down and touchup painting on the exterior coating and a wash- down of the tank exterior on Oaklandon Tower.
  2. Meter Change-out Program – As many of you are probably aware, Lawrence has been changing meters on a regular basis for some time now. We plant to continue to change out meters in order to provide highly accurate and reliable meters in our system, a key component in for fairness in billing. In addition, these new meters improve meter reading efficiency as well as provide the highest level of function for the Badger Eye On Water app, a free app that allows customers to better monitor, track and manage water usage as well as set leak alerts, which is a feature that allows a customer to set a threshold for usage in a 24-hour period that, when exceeded, sends a text or email alert to the customer for prompt investigation and action.

 

 

Because of the financial condition of the Sanitary Sewer Utility, I am not providing any new project information at this time. We will need to complete our rate study and seek an adjustment in the sanitary sewer rates in order to be able to proceed with much-needed capital improvements as well as address shortfalls in the budget due to the CEG rate increases we are subject to under the re-negotiated contract for sewage treatment, as well as the shortfalls in routine Operations and Maintenance brought about by a failure to adjust sewer rates since 2009.

 

Please watch this space for more information as existing projects and plans develop and new projects are added. I will also be posting additional information with respect to the sanitary sewer rate situation.

 

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me at ssalsbery@cityoflawrence.org with any questions or concerns regarding your water and sanitary sewer services.

 

 

Thank you,

Scott Salsbery, Supt.

 

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