Akron City CouncilSewer Rate Increase

Proposed Consent DecreeLodged in Federal Court

November 13, 2009United States of America

The State of OhioThe City of Akron, Ohio

Akron City Council Public Hearing Morley Health Center

Thursday, December 17, 2009 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Meeting Agenda• Welcome/Introductions

– Marco Summerville, Akron City Council– Mayor Don Plusquellic

• Background– History of Akron Sewers– What is a Combined Sewer?– How are Sewer Rates Calculated?– History of Clean Water Act (EPA invited)– Consent Decrees in US/Ohio Cities (EPA invited)– Elements of the Proposed Akron Consent Decree– Required Rate Increases– Other Rate Options/Funding Sources

• Questions and Answers

BackgroundHistory of Akron Sewers

• Sewer System created 1916• 94 square mile service area – Akron, Cuyahoga

Falls, Tallmadge, Lakemore, Fairlawn, Mogadore, Silver Lake, Munroe Falls, parts of Stow, Bath, Copley, Coventry, Springfield

• 1997 – 195 employees• 2009 – 105 employees

Mike McGlinchy, Public Utilities Bureau

BackgroundHistory of Akron Sewers

• 900 miles of sewers – clay, brick, concrete, plastic - 20,000 manholes

• Separate sanitary sewers – 700 miles• Combined sewers – 200 miles• 38 pump stations, 34 combined sewer overflows,

2 storage basins

Mike McGlinchy, Public Utilities Bureau

BackgroundHistory of Akron Sewers

• Water Pollution Control Station in operation since 1928

• Average flow 75 million gallons per day (mgd)• Peak wet weather flow 280 mgd• 15,000 tons of biosolids processed annually• 85,000 Customers

Mike McGlinchy, Public Utilities Bureau

BackgroundWhat is a Combined Sewer

Pat Gsellman, Akron Engineering Bureau

BackgroundWhat is a Combined Sewer

Pat Gsellman, Akron Engineering Bureau

BackgroundWhat is a Combined Sewer

Pat Gsellman, Akron Engineering Bureau

BackgroundHow are Sewer Rates Calculated

• Our sewer system is a self supporting enterprise.

• Revenues from sewer charges fund operating costs for our wastewater treatment plant, sewer maintenance services and capital improvements to the sewer system.

Andre Blaylock, Public Utilities Bureau

BackgroundHow are Sewer Rates Calculated

• We classify sewer customers as either Residential, Commercial, Industrial or Master Meter Suburban.

• We calculate sewer rates by allocating costs based on the impact on the system by each type of customer.

• Impacts to the system are the volume of flow through the system and the strength of sewage in the system.

Andre Blaylock, Public Utilities Bureau

BackgroundHow are Sewer Rates Calculated

• Cost categories include operation of our Water Pollution Control Station Division, Sewer Maintenance Section; and Repayment of Sewer Debt.

• We allocate these costs based on impacts to the sewer system by residential, commercial, industrial and master meter suburban customers.

Andre Blaylock, Public Utilities Bureau

BackgroundHistory of Clean Water Act

• 1972 Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments (1948)

• 1977 Clean Water Act (CWA)• 1989 National Combined Sewer Overflow Control

Strategy• 1994 CSO Control Policy• 1995 Guidance for Long Term Control Plan

– Characterization– Nine Minimum Controls– Development and Evaluation of Alternatives

• 2000 Wet Weather Water Quality Act

US EPA

BackgroundConsent Decrees in US Cities

772 Cities in the US

• Atlanta, Georgia– $4 Billion

• Boston, Massachusetts– $927 Million for 2010

• Indianapolis, Indiana– $1.7 Billion

US EPA

BackgroundConsent Decrees in Ohio Cities

• Cincinnati– Federal Consent Decree– $1.9 Billion (12%, 11% and 11%)

• Cleveland (NE Ohio Regional Sewer District)– Federal Negotiations– $2-4 Billion (10%, 10% and 15%)

• Columbus– State Consent– $2.5 Billion (15%, 15% and 15%)

• Toledo– Federal Consent Decree– (10%, 10% an 10%)

Ohio EPA

BackgroundElements of Akron’s Consent Decree

Pat Gsellman, Akron Engineering Bureau• Specific Action Project• Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) and Water

Pollution Control Station Control (WPCS) Measures Attachment A

• Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM), Grease Control (FOG), and Emergency Response Programs

• Mud Run Pump Station Program• Civil Penalties, Supplemental Environmental

Project and Stipulated Penalties• Reporting Requirements

Sewer Rates

Required Rate IncreasesRate Options / Funding SourcesQuestions and Answers

Rick Merolla, Akron Service Director

City of AkronProposed Consent Decree 2009

Proposed Consent Decree 60 Day Public Comment Period: 11/25/09 to 1/25/10 E-Mail:

Pubcomment-ees.enrd@usdoj.govMail:

PO Box 7611, US Department of Justice, Washington , DC 20044-7611Refer to:

United States v. City of Akron, Ohio and State of Ohio, DJ Ref 90-5-1-1-3144/2

Additional Questions:Patrick Gsellman PE Environmental Division Manager Akron Engineering Bureaugsellpa@ci.akron.oh.us