Connetquot River Watershed Sewer Project

Presented by P.W. Grosser Consultingon behalf of

Suffolk County Department of Public Works

December 14, 2016

AgendaTeam IntroductionSuffolk County’s Water Quality InitiativesSewer Projects Purpose and GoalsConnetquot River Project FactsProject TimeframePreliminary Project Costs

Project Team

Suffolk County Department of Public WorksP.W. Grosser Consulting – Project LeadCJ2 Communications – Public RelationsSidney Bowne and B. Thayer Associates –

Survey Team

Suffolk County’s Water Quality InitiativesIn 2015 Suffolk County Completed their

Comprehensive Water Resources Management Plan

Among other projects recommended in the plan four large sewer projects focused around south shore rivers emerged, including the following:Carlls RiverConnetquot RiverForge River Patchogue River

Proposed Sewer Projects GoalsProvide sewer service to 11,000 parcels – 465

in Great RiverThe four (4) sewer projects remove close to

860 pounds of nitrogen from the Great South Bay Watershed

Protect Connetquot River

Map of Overall Projects

Purpose of These ProjectsProtect Long Island’s Sole Source Aquifers

from Nitrate ContaminationReduce Nitrate Levels in Surface WatersReduce Occurrence of Harmful Algal BloomsRestore Wetland and Seagrass AreasImprove Coastal Resiliency

Physical Impact of Nitrogen on the Great South Bay

Caused the GSB to be listed on NYSDEC’s 303(d) list of impaired water bodies since 2008, restricts its commercial and recreational viability.

Nitrogen is essential to aquatic plant life; but in excess can lead to harmful algal blooms that consume oxygen when the algae die and decompose. The resulting low oxygen condition (hypoxia) can negatively affect other plant and sea life populations.

Impact on Hard Clam Harvest

In 1976 the price received by fisherman (ex-vessel price) for the clams commercially harvested from the Great South Bay totaled $16.9 million, however at modern day prices the same harvest would yield approximately $63.5 million, according to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Project DescriptionComprised of the hamlet Great RiverConnect 465 parcels to municipal sewer

systemGravity Sewer System – Will connect to

Southwest Sewer DistrictSome Pump Stations may be necessary

Remove 41 pounds per day of nitrogen from entering the groundwater

Study Area / District Boundary

Land Use Map

Project TimeframeSurvey Work

Initial Control Survey Has BegunDoor to Door Surveys – First Quarter of 2017

Project Website – First Quarter of 2017Figures and ReportsMeeting Dates and Notices

Engineering Report – Work Has Begun Next Public Meeting – February 2017

Door to Door SurveysNotify via mailing and website of scheduled workTwo Man Survey Crews

Will have Photo ID From B. Thayer Associates

Obtain the Following InformationTopographic Information of the propertyFirst Floor Elevation of your house/businessSewer Line Invert ElevationTake Picture of the Property

Leave Flyer on how to measure your sewer line invert elevation, if you are not home or don’t want to allow the survey crew access.

Preliminary Budget Estimates• The “hard costs” for each phase were determined based upon

the preliminary sewer layout and typical construction costs. • The budget estimates also include the “soft costs” for

engineering, surveying and legal fees. • Given the preliminary nature of the design a 15 percent

contingency was also included, to account for unforeseen conditions.

Determining Operation and Maintenance Costs

Comprised of two parts Per Parcel Charge = $36.00User Fee = $157.00 Total O&M Fee = $193.00 Based on SCSD # 3 – Southwest 2017 Fees

For users utilizing Pump Stations Additional annual O&M for the Pump StationElectric costs = $50Optional pump service contract = $500

Financing and Assessed ValueTo determine the annual cost per household,

the available funding options and assessed property value were utilized.

Funding will be a combination of Grants and loans from New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation (EFC), which provides loans at 2 percent interest for 30 years.

The median assessed value for the study area was determined to be $65,200, which equates to a property value of approximately $513,000.

Annual CostsGrant Percentage

Debt Service District O&M Total Amount

0% $2,502 $193 $2,695

25% $1,876 $193 $2,069

50% $1,251 $193 $1,444

75% $625 $193 $818

The costs above are subject to change as Suffolk County is currently exploring options on allocating grants monies across all projects.

Economic Impact of NitrogenSeptic system cost eliminationImproved water quality in Great South Bay

and Connetquot RiverIncrease recreation and commercial fishing

activity.Improved coastal resiliencyAs a result, increased value of property

throughout the study area and along the Great South Bay.

Thank YouQuestions?