Small Community Wastewater Alternatives Section VI Problem Characterization and Moving to Action

Small Community Wastewater Alternatives

Section VIProblem Characterization and

Moving to Action

Source Water Protection Plan• Wastewater threats• Subset of Contaminant ID/ Inventory• Prioritize vulnerability of source:

– Proximity– Severity of threat

• Likelihood of contamination (transport)• Potency of contaminant

– Other• Specific management strategy

Overview

• Elements of a Management Plan

• Getting there

• Funding

• Long-term planning

• Stakeholder tips

Elements of a Management Plan

• Introduction

• Assessment of Existing Conditions

• Evaluation of Management Alternatives

• Selected Management Approach

• Outline of Project Implementation Plan

Elements of a Management Plan (cont.)

1. Introductiona. Goals and Objectives

b. Framework/ Context

c. Participants and Roles

d. Relevant Background

e. Acknowledgements


2. Assessment of Existing Conditionsa. Methodology

i. Conducting inventory

ii. Assessing risk

b. Summary of findings

c. Supporting data


3. Evaluation of Management Alternativesa. Summary of alternatives

b. Criteria for selection

4. Selected Management Approach a. How selected alternative meets criteria

b. Cost Estimate

c. Funding options


5. Outline of Project Implementation Plana. Roles and responsibilities

b. Project planning steps

c. Timeline

Getting There1. Set Goals and Objectives

2. Organize Steering Committee/ Stakeholder Group

3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions

4. Identify Management Alternatives

5. Select a Management Approach

6. Outline Implementation Plan

7. Maintain communication

Getting There1. Set Goals and Objectives (sample)

a. Goals:• Formalize strategy to protect drinking water source (s) from

wastewater contamination, particularly onsite septic systems• Generate community-wide support for protecting water supplies by

managing wastewater through education and relationship building

b. Objectives• Develop a source water protection strategy for wastewater• Establish a framework for implementing the strategy• Encourage community participation throughout the planning

process

Getting There2. Organize Steering Committee/ Stakeholder

Groupa. Be inclusive – be groupers not splitters

b. Identify backgrounds and expertise

c. Select leader and secretary

d. Preliminary determination of roles – roles may shift as project progresses

e. Set a timeline

f. Identify and assign tasks:

Getting ThereSteering Committee Tasks:• Conduct preliminary information gathering• Confirm the delineation of the source water protection

area• Complete an inventory of individual, commercial,

industrial and community wastewater systems• Establish priority ranking system based on severity of

threat• Identify and make management recommendations • Help identify funding options • Identify potential sites (if appropriate) for community or

clustered wastewater treatment• Make the routine decisions that guide the project.

Possible Team Members• County sanitarians, water and wastewater

operators, elected officials, city/county health officials, county extension agents, city/county planners

• Code enforcement officers/ building inspectors• Resource conservation and development agencies • Watershed planning groups• Service organizations, senior citizen groups, youth

groups and school personnel• General community • Bankers/ realtors

Getting There

3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditionsa. Preliminary information gathering

b. Delineate protection area

c. Conduct contaminant inventory

d. Assess public health risk

Getting There3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions

a. Preliminary information gathering– Identify sources of upfront information: maps,

assessment records, existing wastewater surveys or contaminant inventories by others, 911 records, others

– Identify regulatory powers and management authority– Identify and involve technical assistance resources– Identify obvious obstacles

Getting There

3. Assess and Analyze Existing Conditions b. Delineate protection area

• Zones of influence• Groundwater source• Surface water source


c. Conduct contaminant inventory1. Include individual, commercial, schools, hospitals,

group homes, elder care facilities, residential developments, offices, industrial, public or private non-profit corporations

2. Map system locations – water system staff, code enforcement officers, building and zoning inspectors, health department staff, highway department


c. Conduct contaminant inventory3. Collect additional information

• System type and condition

• Known problems and action taken

• Unusual strength waste (type and volume generated)

• Non-residential flow volumes

4. Data collection methodology• Visual survey

• Wastewater surveys

• Site inspections

• Owner interviews


c. Conduct contaminant inventory

5. Record data• Use a proven database if possible• Easy-to-share format• Consider sharing cost of database development• Provide for an update mechanism


d. Assess public health risk– Determine ranking criteria based on severity of

threat• proximity• degree of failure• type of contaminants• effectiveness of existing strategies

– Prioritize (rank) systems– Chart results simply and clearly

Getting There

4. Identify Management Alternativesa. Identify level of protection required

b. Identify and rank potential protection strategies

c. Differentiate between short-term and long-term strategies

d. Research and review favored options

Getting There

4. Identify Management Alternativesa. Identify level of protection required

• Different zones may have different requirements

b. Identify and rank potential protection strategies:

– Existing systems – New systems– Likelihood of community or cluster system needs– Identify training needs

Getting There4. Identify Management Alternatives

b. Identify and rank potential protection strategies:– Existing systems

• Inspection and monitoring (identify and prevent malfunctions)

• Repair and replacement

– New systems

• Enhanced site and soil evaluation requirements

• Enhanced design professional requirements

• Enhanced system performance requirements

• Increased setback or slope requirements

– Likelihood of community or cluster system needs

– Identify training needs

Getting There

4. Identify Management Alternativesc. Differentiate between short-term and long-term

strategies– Short-term: public/homeowner education, voluntary activities

to work towards a management district, coordinate health dept. inspections, cost-share programs to replace septic systems, other things that can be done with little money

– Long-term: management district, clusters, sewer system

d. Research and review favored options

Getting There

5. Select a Management Approacha. Review alternatives with Steering Committee,

community, regulators, funders, and technical assistance providers

b. Consider funding availability

c. Recommend alternative (s)

Getting There

6. Outline Implementation Plana. Outline planning steps

b. Develop a realistic timeline

c. Public meetings: involve the public early

d. Solicit design professional

e. Obtain preliminary cost estimate

f. Secure funding

Getting There7. Maintain Communication

a. Steering Committeeb. Water System Managementc. Municipalityd. Property ownerse. Communityf. Regulatorsg. Design Professionalh. Funding sources

Stakeholder Meeting Organizing Tips

• Have food

• Meet at local venues where others might overhear and get drawn in

• Face-to-face, one-on-one interactions are extremely effective

• Piggy back onto other events

• Use humor

Identifying Stakeholders• Ask key members of the community who think they will

be interested in the issues• Identify:

– organized groups and individuals who might be interested in the potential acts that have been identified

– any groups that may be hard to reach– groups and individuals that may not typically be thought of

as being part of the public– groups and individuals that may not typically be thought of

as being part of the public

Courtesy of Pace U. Land Use Training

FundingIndividual System assistance

• USDA Rural Development – Section 504 Home Repair Loan and Grant

Program• Grants up to $7,500 for very low income

homeowners 62 and older• 1% interest loans up to $20,000 for other low-

income families and individuals

Funding

Individual System assistance

• USDA Rural Development – Section 502 Direct Home Loan Program

• Elderly: Income < 80% Area Median Income • Other: Income < 50% Area Median Income • Terms up to 33 years• Can be used to repair or prepare home site

Funding

Municipal system assistance• USDA Rural Development

Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Funding Program

– 38 year loan terms– Poverty, Intermediate and Market rates– Limited grant available

• State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF)• U.S. Department of HUD

Long-Term Planning

• Community Profile• Needs Assessment• Identifying Interests• Confirming Community Support• Survey Instruments• Project Planning Tips

Community Profile/ Needs Assessment• Evaluate natural conditions and environmentally

sensitive areas• Water supply• Land use• Demographics• Wastewater flows and loading• Existing treatment facilities/systems• Future growth and economic development• Identifying / prioritizing areas of concern*

Identifying Needs and Interests• Confirming community support for a

project:– Need– Interest– Willingness to pay– Ability to pay

Needs Surveys

• Interest surveys

• Drinking water surveys

• Wastewater surveys

• Income surveys

Wastewater Planning Tips• Community Steering Committee

• Begin planning now

• Exercise administrative will

• Take advantage of technical assistance

• Think critically. Be discriminating in hiring a consultant

• Evaluate / document funding eligibility

• Involve regulators early

• Make O&M a priority

• Keep community/customers informed

Documents

Small Community Wastewater Alternatives Section VI Problem Characterization and Moving to Action