An Update on Louisville MSDs Basement Backflow Prevention ...
An Update on Louisville MSDs Basement Backflow Prevention ... An Update on Louisville MSDs Basement Backflow Prevention ...
OWEA Collections System Workshop Columbus, Ohio
- Page 2 and 3: Abstract The Problem Customer basem
- Page 4 and 5: August 8, 1992 Flood of August 199
- Page 6 and 7: Surcharged Sewer Causing Basement F
- Page 8 and 9: Potential Program Risks Identified
- Page 10 and 11: Public Education and Plumber Traini
- Page 12 and 13: Flood of 1997 - “The Program Expa
- Page 14 and 15: Valve Installation 14 © 2011 O’B
- Page 16 and 17: Sump Pump Installation 16 © 2011 O
- Page 18 and 19: Cost of Installation Initial progra
- Page 20 and 21: Installations per Year 20 © 2011 O
- Page 22 and 23: Summary and Conclusions Extremely
- Page 24: © 2011 O’Brien & Gere
OWEA Collecti<strong>on</strong>s System Workshop Columbus, Ohio<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>An</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Update</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>Louisville</strong> <strong>MSDs</strong><br />
<strong>Basement</strong> <strong>Backflow</strong> Preventi<strong>on</strong> Program<br />
15 Years and 9,000 Installati<strong>on</strong>s Later<br />
Wes Sydnor, PE | <strong>Louisville</strong> and Jeffers<strong>on</strong> County Metropolitan Sewer District<br />
Timothy Kraus, PE | O’Brien & Gere<br />
© 2011 O’Brien & Gere
Abstract<br />
The Problem<br />
Customer basement flooding due to surcharged sewers<br />
from wet weather events in the combined sewer area<br />
The Soluti<strong>on</strong><br />
The Plumbing Modificati<strong>on</strong> Program:<br />
• Began in 1993<br />
• Pays for installati<strong>on</strong> of modificati<strong>on</strong>s protecting against<br />
basement flooding<br />
• 9,000 installati<strong>on</strong>s completed<br />
• $15 milli<strong>on</strong> c<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> cost<br />
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<strong>Louisville</strong> KY Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD)<br />
Created as a Special District in 1946, by KRS 076<br />
Resp<strong>on</strong>sible for storm water and wastewater service in <strong>Louisville</strong>, KY<br />
metropolitan area<br />
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August 8, 1992<br />
Flood of August 1992<br />
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<strong>Basement</strong> <strong>Backflow</strong> Preventi<strong>on</strong> Program<br />
Flooded <strong>Basement</strong>s<br />
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Surcharged Sewer Causing <strong>Basement</strong> Flooding<br />
House<br />
House<br />
Manhole<br />
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Opti<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Larger pipes & larger WWTP => $$$ and time<br />
Storage basins => $$$ and time<br />
Individual back-up eliminati<strong>on</strong> installati<strong>on</strong> => Risk<br />
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Potential Program Risks<br />
Identified initial Plumbing Modificati<strong>on</strong> Program risks<br />
C<strong>on</strong>structi<strong>on</strong> liability<br />
Budget impacts: total dollars; pace of spending<br />
Public dollar spending c<strong>on</strong>cerns<br />
Customer educati<strong>on</strong><br />
› proper operati<strong>on</strong> and maintenance<br />
C<strong>on</strong>fined space entry avoidance - no external installati<strong>on</strong>s<br />
On-going maintenance<br />
› customers not taking ownership<br />
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Implementing the Program<br />
The Plumbing Modificati<strong>on</strong> Program began in 1993<br />
Tests c<strong>on</strong>ducted to choose the best opti<strong>on</strong><br />
C<strong>on</strong>cern over the program’s acceptance and success<br />
Selecti<strong>on</strong> of designated areas for implementati<strong>on</strong><br />
Chr<strong>on</strong>ic problem site selecti<strong>on</strong><br />
Customer notificati<strong>on</strong> and educati<strong>on</strong><br />
Extensive communicati<strong>on</strong> effort<br />
Geographic distributi<strong>on</strong><br />
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Public Educati<strong>on</strong> and Plumber Training<br />
Customer educati<strong>on</strong><br />
Letters mailed<br />
Door hangers<br />
Political involvement<br />
Plumber educati<strong>on</strong><br />
Details reviewed to assure competitive bidding<br />
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Steps of the Initial Program<br />
MSD designated specific areas<br />
MSD mailed letters<br />
MSD database c<strong>on</strong>taining customer informati<strong>on</strong><br />
Packets of informati<strong>on</strong> mailed<br />
Customer solicit 3 bids from licensed plumbers<br />
MSD review bids<br />
Approval letters sent<br />
Homeowner c<strong>on</strong>tact plumber<br />
Plumber obtain permits<br />
Plumber c<strong>on</strong>tact inspector and MSD for inspecti<strong>on</strong><br />
Check sent to plumber<br />
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Flood of 1997 - “The Program Expands”<br />
Over 12 inches of rain fell from February 28 until March 2<br />
Sixth worst Ohio River flood <strong>on</strong> record<br />
$85 milli<strong>on</strong> in property loss<br />
Result: Plumbing Modificati<strong>on</strong> Program opened to MSD customers<br />
throughout Jeffers<strong>on</strong> County<br />
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Summary of Types of Installati<strong>on</strong>s Each Year<br />
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Valve Installati<strong>on</strong><br />
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Valve Installati<strong>on</strong><br />
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Sump Pump Installati<strong>on</strong><br />
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Ejector Pump Installati<strong>on</strong><br />
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Cost of Installati<strong>on</strong><br />
Initial program cost<br />
$5000<br />
Today’s average costs<br />
$2,800 ejectors<br />
$2,100 valve<br />
$1,600 sump pumps<br />
$200 administrati<strong>on</strong><br />
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Locati<strong>on</strong> and Distributi<strong>on</strong> of Installati<strong>on</strong><br />
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Installati<strong>on</strong>s per Year<br />
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How We Adapted<br />
D<strong>on</strong>’t Over Plan!<br />
Most Expensive device is not best<br />
Release form<br />
Wet areas<br />
Water in vaults<br />
Wow, it is FREE!!<br />
If you can image it, it exists!<br />
Payment direct to plumber<br />
Dedicated electrical service for pumps<br />
Transferred all oversight in house July 2003<br />
Downsized informati<strong>on</strong> packet<br />
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Summary and C<strong>on</strong>clusi<strong>on</strong>s<br />
Extremely successful initiative for MSD<br />
9,000 installati<strong>on</strong>s completed<br />
Reduced the potential for human c<strong>on</strong>tact with diluted sewage<br />
Reduced property damage<br />
<strong>Basement</strong> flooding now very manageable. Eliminati<strong>on</strong> of “4A” -<br />
surcharged sewer/basement backup code<br />
Soluti<strong>on</strong> using n<strong>on</strong> traditi<strong>on</strong>al means<br />
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C<strong>on</strong>tact: Marty Schindler<br />
schindle@msdlouky.org<br />
© 2011 O’Brien & Gere
© 2011 O’Brien & Gere