Water Information November 2013 Summary (linked) Overview of Town - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Water Information November 2013

Summary (linked)

• Overview of Town System
• Discolouration Problem (2 slides)
• Operating Requirements
• Approach
• Phase 1 Projects (5 Slides)
• Phase 2 Projects (2 Slides)
• Costs
• 2013 Water Rates (3 Slides)
• Project Descriptions

2 Summary Link

Overview Pictou’s Water Source

• Groundwater supply – not surface water
• Two Wellfields (Caribou and Pictou)
• 13 Wells – producing 1.7 million litres per day
• 9 Wells supply the Water Tower

3 Summary Link

Overview Pictou’s Water Source

4 Summary Link

The Discolouration Problem

• Naturally occurring manganese in raw water – the addition of

chlorine drops manganese out of solution (appears in solid form)

• Manganese then builds up in pipes and bottom of water tower
• A change in pressure (caused by line breaks etc)

stirs up deposits which then pass through the system as discoloured water

• Some areas of town worse than others:

– Dead ends lines have lower quality due to overnight settling – Certain areas of Town have multidirectional flow, depending on the time of day. The change in direction causes discoloration

5 Summary Link

Operating Requirements

• Governed by Nova Scotia Environment (NSE) and the

Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (NSUARB)

• NSE required increase in chlorine (adds to discolouration

by pulling more manganese out of solution)

• NSE issues water withdraw permit based on sustainable

pumping yields (water is a Provincial resource)

• NSUARB sets rates based on capital projects & operating

costs

• The Town of Pictou’s Utility is currently one of the most

complex systems in the Province

6 Summary Link

Two Main Issues

• No. 1

System upgrades to ensure compliance with safe drinking water and other NSE regulations and permits continues. Referred to as Phase 1

• No. 2

Construction of a Central Treatment Plant to address water discolouration issues. Referred to as Phase 2

7 Summary Link

Phase 1: Capital Projects

1.1 Safe Drinking Water Regulations:

• NSE required testing and studies (complete)
• Engineering system designs (complete)
• Water Model created - pressure + disinfection residual

scenarios (complete with ongoing refinements)

• Installation of 3 new wells (complete)
• Installation of new transmission line to cluster wells

(complete)

• Installation of Ultra Violet disinfection (occurring now)
• Installation of Monitoring Equipment (occurring now)
• Provincial/Federal Infrastructure application pending

8 Summary Link

Phase 1: Capital Projects

9 Summary Link

Phase 1: Capital Projects

1.1 Safe Drinking Water Regulations:

10 Summary Link

Phase 1: Capital Projects

1.2 NSE Water Withdrawal Permit (Meters):

• Main purpose of meters is to ensure Utility stays below the NSE

permitted withdrawal amount (new construction, central filtration backwash requirements etc…)

• Meters are main tool available to reduce water consumption

(public education) and production (leak detection)

• Cost sharing has been obtained
• NSUARB approved installation (in 2005

and 2013)

• Flat billings will continue until

discolouration is addressed

• Neptune has begun to install meters on

an area by area basis

11 Summary Link

Phase 1: Capital Projects

1.3 Infrastructure Updates:

• New and replacement distribution lines:

– Portion of St. Andrews St (complete) – Irving St (complete) – Sinclair St (complete) – Portion of Palmerston St (complete) – Spruce St (complete) – Extension of Hector Ave (complete) – NSUARB 2013 rates includes $100k per yr – Engineering work complete on two Streets

• Standpipe Refurbishment:

– Outlet pipe extended upwards to lessen discolouration events (complete) – Major interior and exterior refit (work in progress)

12 Summary Link

Phase 2: Water Discolouration

Central Treatment Plant:

• Intent: Filter manganese out of raw water prior to

chlorination (no or little manganese left to drop out of solution – no manganese deposit in standpipe and lines – no water discolouration)

• Pre-design engineering report (completed)
• Piloting of treatment technologies at full scale (about to

start)

• Applications for Provincial and Federal infrastructure cost

sharing (pending release of applications)

13 Summary Link

Phase 2: Water Discolouration

14 Summary Link

Summary of Capital Costs

• Phase 1: (safe water & regulatory): $3.35 million
• Phase 2: (water discolouration):

$4.08 million TOTAL $7.43 million

15 Summary Link

2013 Water Rates

• NSUARB approved rate increases to fund:

– remaining costs of Phase 1 upgrades; and – costs associated with piloting of treatment technologies

• The NSUARB has approved flat rate billing until

water discolouration has been addressed

16 Summary Link

2013 Water Rates

• What is NOT included in the Town’s current rates:

– The vast majority of Phase 2 costs (water discolouration)

• Why not?

– The Town believes that in the absence of Provincial and Federal cost-sharing Phase 2 may not be affordable to water customers

17 Summary Link

Rate Hearing

• How will Phase 1 costs affect my water bill?

Flat rates (unmetered) will continue until discolouration has been addressed. Meter Size Current Size 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Unmetered 79.92 $ 119.45 $ 121.05 $ 121.63 $ 121.04 $ 5/8 149.99 $ 171.86 $ 175.88 $ 176.89 $ 175.87 $ 3/4 133.93 $ 158.05 $ 160.05 $ 160.78 $ 160.04 $ 1 212.30 $ 244.96 $ 248.07 $ 249.21 $ 248.06 $ 1.5 349.41 $ 411.11 $ 415.64 $ 417.30 $ 415.62 $ 2 590.79 $ 673.62 $ 681.63 $ 684.58 $ 681.60 $ 3 598.64 $ 719.07 $ 721.62 $ 722.56 $ 721.61 $ Year Ending

18 Summary Link

Additional Detail All Projects

Summary Link

Description of Individual Water Projects (Linked)

• Completed Projects

– Engineering – Well Clustering (transmission main) – Contact Pipes – New Wells – Infrastructure Replacement

• In Progress Projects

– Disinfection and Monitoring Upgrades – Water Tower Refurbishment – Residential Water Meters – Treatment Technology Piloting – Treatment Plant

20 Summary Link

Completed Projects

21 Summary Link

Engineering

Why

• Require professional design and costing advice (helps influence cost

sharing opportunities from other levels of government)

Description

• CBCL was hired to complete

– Assess water system – Suggest phase compliance/treatment work based on standards – Model the system – Provide guidance on all projects

Outcome

• A project list has been completed and divided into two phases:

– Phase 1 is compliance related – Phase 2 is treatment

• Achieve compliance with NSE standards
• Implement technology to improve water quality

22 Summary Link

Well Clustering

Why

• Create a centralized blend of water to send to a future treatment plant

Description

• Connected 9 of the Town’s 13 wells
• A blended water source reduces variability in its chemistry

Outcome

• All water produced along the northern/eastern boundary now supplies

the water tower and site of a future treatment plant

23 Summary Link

Contact Pipes

Why

• Regulations require water to be mixed with chlorine for a specific time

prior to entering the distribution system

Description

• Four wells currently feed directly into the distribution system.
• Large contact pipes were required at those sites

Outcome

• All sites have contact pipes installed and disinfected
• Disinfection requirements for chlorine achieved

Town chlorine dosing equipment 24 Summary Link

New Wells

Why

• Some wells were low in quality and yield
• Cheaper to decommission/built new wells than repair

Description

• Drilled two new wells
• Re-drilled one well
• Replaced three poor quality/low yield wells

Outcome

• Well #14 and #15 were built and commissioned
• Vance Well and #9 were decommissioned
• Footes Lane has been re-drilled 100 meters from its original location
• Town increased its production capacity by close to 100 gpm

25 Summary Link

Infrastructure Replacement

Why

• Several aged pipes and hydrants (early 1900 vintage)
• Some generations of pipes have been prone to breaks
• Hydrants need to be in working order

Description

• Replacing hydrants and pipes on a year by year basis
• Invested/ing about $110,000 per year

Outcome

• Several streets have had pipes replaced

(click here for street locations)

• Most Hydrants in the Town have been replaced

26 Summary Link

In Progress Projects

27 Summary Link

Disinfection and Monitoring Upgrades

Why

• Pre-existing system did not meet new NSE

requirements/regulations

• Needed to increase disinfection and monitoring of

raw water

Description

• Installation of new monitoring equipment for quality parameters

(computerized system)

• Installation of new UV disinfection lights

Outcome

• Installed all new equipment at 13 well sites and the water tower
• A computer system records all quality parameters and provides early

detection of changes

• UV lights provide the needed disinfection

Town of Pictou UV System (2013) 28 Summary Link

Water Tower Refurbishment

Why

• Built in 1982
• Requires cleaning, recoating and upgraded

corrosion control features

• New treatment to be built adjacent to water tower

(the project upgrades the tower prior to plant construction)

Description

• November 2013 - drained, cleaned, sand blasted, upgraded corrosion

control equipment and re-coated (interior)

• Spring 2014 - drained, sand blasted and re-coated (exterior)
• Updating to improve safety and access

Outcome

• The Tower will have an extended life of 15-20 years
• Improved physical appearance and safety

29 Summary Link

Residential Water Meters

Why

• Approaching maximum withdrawal limit regulated by the Province
• Need a method for identifying leaks (system and homes)

Description

• Exiting meters are being replaced with new technology
• Residential water meters are being installed
• Help improve leak detection

Outcome

• NSUARB has approved flat rate billing on residential meters until a

treatment plant is built

• Meters will notify users if they have a leak
• Allow Utility to account for all water used to determine system losses
• ALLOW THE TOWN TO STAY WITHIN SUSTAINABLE PUMPING LIMITS

30 Summary Link

Water Treatment Piloting

Why

• Need to identify which treatment technology best suits our water.

Description

• We have several sources of water, all high in manganese concentration
• Limited water available for a new central treatment system

maintenance (backwash water)

Outcome

• Identify the most effective and efficient technology for a treatment

plant

• Better understanding of maintenance costs and requirements

31 Summary Link

Water Treatment Plant

Why

• Water is extremely high in manganese concentration
• When interacting with chlorine it drops out of solution
• Causes major discolouration events and problems for all users

Description

• Will be built based on technology identified from the pilot
• Built at the water tower site (Oak Street) and treat 9 of 13 wells
• Water will be chlorinated after manganese is removed

Outcome

• Manganese will no longer enter the distribution system (clearer water)
• Existing manganese will eventually pass out of the system (over time)
• Greatly improve aesthetic water quality

32 Summary Link