Mayor Jed Maxwell has announced that on February 3, 2022 the CIB Board authorized a $6,981,000 loan for 30 years at 0.5% interest and a $6,981,000 grant (total CIB $13,962,000) to Salina City for the 2022 Sewer System Project.
Following this, Mario Gonzalez, Sunrise Engineering, was granted clearance by the council to begin the design phase of the Wastewater Project Salina City is currently working on. Salina City has received $400,000 from the Water Quality Board as a low interest, long-term loan, but officials plan to revisit the board and request a hardship grant, which the city does qualify for.
The scope of the project has been in the works for over a year and is much needed. Following the repairs, further significant work on the project will not be necessary for 30 plus years.
“This will mean a $46 rate increase, but costs are just so crazy right now and it’s not going to get any cheaper,” said Mayor Jed Maxwell. “None of us want to pay a higher rate, but it’s inevitable. It’s great that the city could get the CIB funds- the 50/50 with half a percent interest rate.”
Gonzalez provided the following overview of the current situation and proposed project: The Salina City wastewater collection system is comprised of approximately 119,703 feet of sewer pipe, including approximately 4,910 feet of vitrified clay pipe (VCP), 23,570 feet of concrete pipe, 1,830 feet of double walled PVC pipe, 370 feet of ductile pipe, and 89,023 feet of PVC pipe. Approximately one-third of the system was replaced with PVC pipe during a project in 2001. The rest of the system is significantly older than 20 years.
Salina City had the entire system cleaned and video inspected in 2020. The resulting video logs were reviewed by the City and Sunrise Engineering, and the areas of the system showing deficiencies and system failure have been identified for improvements in the Salina City Wastewater Master Plan dated March 2021.
The improvements identified include replacing approximately 44,100 feet of sewer mains along with associated manholes and service connections and installing a new sewer interceptor line to the lagoons for future growth. The city identified a low area southwest of Sunset Drive that has already had the collection system constructed with very flat slopes, and that continues to receive additional development pressure. To better serve this area and accommodate the continued growth in this area, a lift station will be constructed along with required appurtenances. The existing lagoons do not have an adequate headworks system, and currently do not have any screening capability. A new headworks building with screens will be constructed at the lagoon to remove undesirable solids such as trash, wipes, and other decomposable products. The improvements are summarized as follows:
Existing Lift Station Upgrades
- Replace backup generator, check valve, and odor control system.
- Upgrade Instrumentation and Control (SCADA)
New Lift Station
- Construct New Lift Station on the southwest side of Salina City
- 4,000 feet of new 6-inch PVC force main
- 3,900 feet of 10-inch PVC gravity line
Sewer Replacement
- Replace failing VCP, concrete, double walled PVC (Truss), and ductile iron pipes.
- Approximately 44,100 feet of sewer mains
- 191 manholes
- 344 service connections and cleanouts
- Replacement of all sewer laterals, affected by the sewer main replacements, from the property line to the sewer main.
Lagoon Screen & Headhouse
- New headworks building
- New screens, metering, instrumentation, and wash station
- Culinary water service line to headworks building
The area of impact of these improvements will primarily be within the existing City rights of way and utility corridors. As such, negative environmental impacts as a result of the project will be minimal. Positive environmental impacts (improvements) will include the mitigation of potentially widespread discharge of untreated wastewater to the ground and mitigation of the risk of sewer backups or similar sanitary sewer overflows (SSO’s). Other direct benefits to the City will include a reduction in the cost and resources required to clean and maintain the collection system.
PROPOSED SCHEDULE
- Design will start immediately (survey, soil study) and should complete by end of 2022
- Bid project as soon afterward as practical
- Construction expected to be during 2023
CALCULATED SEWER FEE
Based on the cost model and funding, the calculated sewer fee is approximately $46.29. This fee is only a calculation and may be different than what the City chooses to enact.
