City of Valentine Water & Wastewater Systems Improvements Valentine, Texas

City of ValentineRapid Assessment Process Project Strategic Plan

City of ValentineWater & Wastewater Systems Improvements

Valentine, Texas

Presented to:Project Sponsor and Agency Stakeholders

July 29, 2003


General Aspects

Environmental and Human Health Indicators

Environmental, Human Health and Sustainable

Development Indicators

Technical Approach, Objectives and Funding Plan

Public Participation

Project Development Schedule

Agenda


General Aspects

The City of Valentine: Located in west Texas, in Jeff Davis County; Approximately 36 miles west of Fort Davis; Approximately 30 miles northeast of the U.S. / Mexico Border.

Project Location

Texas


City of Valentine Population: 187 (Census 2000) Colonia Designation

State of Texas Attorney General Texas Water Development Board Tejeda Center to assist Valentine in adopting Model Subdivision

Rules relative to colonias for BEIF eligibility.

Median Household Income (Census Data): Income survey recommended to make determination regarding income

1999 - $34,375 1989 – $9,183

Unemployment Rate: 21% Existing Facilities

Water – 80 metered service connections Wastewater – None

General AspectsProject Sponsor Profile


General Aspects

Production Groundwater, of suitable quality is obtained from West Texas Bolsons Aquifer; Two Production Wells

Existing Water Treatment, Storage, & Distribution System

Owner Capacity Pump Depth Comments

City of Valentine 65 – 70 gpm 15 hp 870 ft Supplies City

Valentine Independent School District (VISD)

20 gpm 5 hp 400 ft Supplies school buildings

Storage Water Standpipe 47,000 gal built in 1976.

Distribution System constructed in 1976; 80 service connections with meter. .


General AspectsExisting Water Treatment, Storage, & Distribution System

Existing Well Site Existing Well


Existing Water Treatment, Storage, & Distribution SystemGeneral Aspects

Existing Chlorine Injection Existing Standpipe


General AspectsWater Facilities Deficiencies

Production Existing well requires new pump and wiring; City relies on the VISD well during emergency provisions; VISD well production insufficient for City over a prolonged length of time.

Storage Standpipe inadequate to satisfy pressure requirements.

Distribution Preliminary review indicates inadequate looping of the system; Provisions for fire do not exist; Accuracy of meters installed in 1976 should be verified.

General City of Valentine does not employ a system operator but contracts for this

service; High incidence of unaccounted for water at 19%.


Proposed Water Systems ImprovementsGeneral Aspects

Production Replace existing well pump, control wire, miscellaneous piping and electrical

controls and well site security fencing; Construct new production well for simultaneous operation with existing well.

New well would provide additional production and an alternate source during emergencies;

Install 2,000 lf of 4-inch well line; Construct new chlorination building for both existing and new well; Determine source for high incidence of unaccounted for water.

Storage Construction of new storage facility adjacent to the existing standpipe to

increase system pressure. A $263,000 grant has been approved by ORCA for construction of the new storage facility.

Distribution Perform water model analysis as required; Complete looping of existing system; Evaluate fire provisions requirement.

Total Estimated Cost - $604,000 (excludes ORCA grant)


General Aspects

Collection Valentine does not have any centralized collection system; All residents use on-site sewage cesspools for disposal.

Treatment The City of Valentine does not have any treatment facilities.

Existing Wastewater Collection and Treatment System

Wastewater System Deficiencies Collection

Valentine does not have any centralized collection system; All residents use on-site sewage cesspools for disposal; Due to small residential lots many of the existing cesspools do not comply with current state regulations; Design and/or construction of the existing cesspools and septic tanks is inadequate. Many cesspools

suspected to be unlined; Additional investigation required to determine the possibility of groundwater contamination from these

on-site systems.

Treatment Valentine does not have any centralized treatment system.


General Aspects

Improvements proposed by GSWW, Consultant Engineer for Valentine, include (existing population plus 20 year growth):

Collection Gravity collection system consisting of 19,000 lf of sewer mains ranging in

size from 6-10 inches with 38 manholes; 200 lf of 16-inch steel casings at two locations; One duplex lift station with 1,500 lf of 3-inch forcemain;

Treatment 2 facultative lagoons; 2 stabilization ponds with clay liners; Construction includes plant piping, effluent metering station and

recirculating pump, discharge line and site security fencing; A preliminary 22-acre site has been identified southwest of the City limits; Approximately 40 acres required for irrigation.

Proposed Wastewater System Improvements

Total Estimated Cost - $1,441,320


Environmental and Human Health IndicatorsCompliance with Environmental Norms & Regulations

Water SystemTCEQ Comprehensive Compliance Investigation of Valentine’s water system:

Notice of Violation issued March 7, 2003; The City was cited for failure to design and maintain a minimum pressure of 35 psi at flow rates of at least

1.5 gpm at each service connection; TCEQ has indicated that a response to the Notice is required soon; Tejeda Center to assist Valentine with the response

Wastewater System TCEQ indicated there have not been any complaints issued for the various on-site wastewater facilities and

therefore, inspections have not been performed for these systems; TCEQ will assist in performing a survey of existing on-site facilities.


Environmental, Human Health and Sustainable Development Strategies

Border Health Office - May be contacted to determine health statistics Water System

Discuss the threatening impacts of inadequate system looping, lack of an adequate alternative water source, and inadequate pressure;

Document the enforceable regulatory standard(s) which require minimum system capacities for fire flow capacity;

Research the capacity of the West Texas Bolsons Aquifer; Existing reports regarding the West Texas Bolsons Aquifer may be

available through the El Paso Water Utilities (EPWU.

Wastewater System Research and document examples of existing on-site disposal utilizing

unlined cesspools and those constructed on lots smaller than minimum requirements or instance of more than one cesspool per lot;

Describe the environmental and health risks associated with these out- dated technologies;

Percolation of untreated wastewater into the groundwater supply may be a concern. Additional geotechnical investigation should be conducted;

Groundwater data may be available in previous EPWU reports; Prepare for environmentally sensitive issues such as historic preservation,

floodplain and farmland conversion.


Sustainable Development Strategies

Two stakeholder workshops to be conducted. The baseline conditions report is complete.

A back-up operator and additional training is recommended.

An operation and maintenance program will be developed as part of the project.

Present worth analysis and comparison to community affordability with examination of user fee will be performed.

30% design review by system operator


Provide the City of Valentine’s residents with adequate, affordable wastewater and water service in compliance with TCEQ requirements;

Improvement to existing water distribution system in accordance with regulatory requirements;

Construction of a centralized wastewater collection system and treatment facilities;

Abandonment of existing on-site wastewater disposal facilities.

Technical Approach,Objectives and Funding Plan

Project Objectives


Recommended Technical Approach

Technical Approach,Objectives and Funding Plan

PDAP Eligible Tasks: Preliminary Engineering Report Environmental Report (EID) Financial Analysis Public Participation Program Final Engineering Designs Operation and Maintenance Plans Survey of Household Income

Non-PDAP Eligible Tasks: Rate study. Training and institutional strengthening. Contingency Plans Project Management Survey of Existing On-site Facilities


Institutional Capacity

Technical Approach, Objectivesand Funding Plan

The Frank M. Tejeda Center prepared a Statement of Institutional Capacity of the City of Valentine addressing the following :

Regulatory Compliance Issues On-going Projects and Planning Existing Planning Project Development and Funds Management Outsourcing Operational Capacity Management Capabilities Governance


Project Sponsor Financial Potential


The City of Valentine generates revenue by imposing a sales tax. The City of Valentine does not have a police department or fire department.Fiscal year from January 1st to December 31st for each year;December 31, 2002 first audited report completed for the City;

Current Rate Structure$18.00 for first 2000 gallons;$2.25 / 1,000 gallons for next 2,000

gallons;$1,85 / 1,000 gallons for next 3,000

gallons;$1.55 / 1,000 gallons for next 4,000

gallons.

Expenses Revenue Net

Operating Exp/Rev $(20,963.12) $29,708.49 $8,745.37

Other $(1,875.00) $1,330.90 $(544.10)

$(22,838.12) $31,039.39 $8,201.27

Water Fund

Average Monthly BillAverage Water $20.00Garbage Collection $15.00Total $35.00


Identified Potential Funding Sources


USDA-RUS Colonias Grant and Water and Waste Disposal Program. FHA – In 1976, the City received a loan for construction of the water facilities. To date, the City owes

approximately $71,000 on this loan. Pre-application has been submitted to RD.

TWDB Dfund, CWSRF, DWSRF, RWAF, and EDAP and CWTAP – TWDB has indicated no

EDAP/CWTAP funds are available at this time. ORCA

Applied for and received a $263,000 water improvements grant in June 2003. The City has two years to complete the proposed improvements

NADBank BEIF to support construction, service connections, project management and rate transition. A

rate study and additional capacity building tasks may be funded through the IDP. BECC

The City is eligible through the Project Development Assistance Program (PDAP).


Largest obstacle is cost associated with repaying loans and will be a concern of all residents;

Concurrence form the community for mandatory sewer service connections and; Land acquisition for the wastewater treatment facilities. Potentially from EPWU.

Potential ObstaclesPublic Participation Strategy

Local Politics A mayor and two City Council positions and one secretary. One City Council position

is currently vacant; Elections take place every year, for a two-year term. Generally elections not required

as the current politicians run unopposed; There are no term limits; Local organizations: Valentine ISD, Jeff Davis County, Council of Governments,

Border Health Office.

Socio-Economic Indicators Approximately 21% of the population, over the age of 25, has completed a high

school education; TX Workforce Commission, 2002 Labor Market Information denotes 21%

unemployment.


Project Schedule

Documents

City of Valentine Water & Wastewater Systems Improvements Valentine, Texas