Combined Sewer Separation
River treatments. Storm water Improvements.
The City of Albany has begun its estimated $105 Million Combined Sewer projects. The projects include multiple phases over the next several years to meet an EPD permit requirement to reduce untreated combined sewer flows to the Flint River by June of 2025. Along side the Combined Sewer projects are several storm water improvement projects to reduce localized flooding issues. The project areas map shows the different locations of work associated with these projects and their current status.
History
The City of Albany Sanitary Sewer System dates back to the early 1900’s. Earliest maps found in Engineering Repository are dated 1909.
1909
As the City grew, a Combined Sewer System was designed and installed to receive and transport both wastewater (sewage) and stormwater to be discharged into the Flint River. It was later found that the system caused negative economic, environmental, and health impacts and was then redesigned to transport the combined flow to a wastewater treatment plant for treatment before being discharged into the Flint River.
1955
The Dougherty County Board of Health commissioned Wiedeman and Singleton Engineers to prepare a report for the development of the future sanitary sewer system in Albany, Georgia. This report covered an area of 40 square miles. The Sewage Treatment Plant to be constructed would have the capacity to treat 10 million gallons per day (mgd) providing primary treatment only. The report also provided recommendations on other sanitary sewer projects throughout the 40 square mile area and the associated costs of such projects.
1959
The Eastside and Westside Interceptor sewers and the Joshua Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) were constructed.
1967
The enactment of the Federal Water Quality Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-234) and the formation of the State Water Quality Control Board with authority granted by Georgia Laws 1964, as amended, and a regulation requiring secondary treatment of all wastewaters before discharge, the existing Joshua WWTP had to be upgraded. The City added 30 new industrial customers to the collection system in the ten year period since 1958.
1972
Federal Government passed the Clean Water Act 2 which is the genesis of the permitting and regulatory rules that the City is required to achieve today.
1987
The City realized that the Joshua WWTP was receiving increased seasonal peak wastewater flows as a result of infiltration and inflow (I/I) issues with the collection system.
1988
The City engaged Brown & Caldwell to investigate the I/I and to prepare a wastewater master plan. The initial planning assumed that no changes to the operation of the combined sewer system would be required. These assumptions were based on Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) studies which concluded that elimination or treatment of the Combined System Overflows (CSO) was not necessary.
1989
Policies were developed for regulating CSO at the state and federal level. The City’s wastewater master plan was modified to characterize the CSOs and to develop CSO controls.
1991
The City issued bonds for $38 million to increase the WWTP capacity to 32 MGD and to begin separation of the combined sewers where feasible. Pump Station (PS) 26 and force main 26 were modified to take capacity off the west side system and discharge south of Oakridge to the WWTP. PS 25 and PS 27 were also modified to handle increased CSO flows to reduce overflows to the river.
1997
Bond funds were used to eliminate the aging Turner Field Air Base Wastewater Treatment Plant (0.75 MGD) by constructing a pump station and force main to discharge to the Eastside Interceptor system, thus eliminating and aging plant, having the effluent treated at the Joshua WWTP, and eliminating a discharge point into the Georgia Power Reservoir.
2001
A $14M bond was used to make additional upgrades to the Joshua WWTP.
Green - This status indicates that a project is Complete. Yellow - This status indicates that the tasks have started on this project. Red - This status indicates that the project has not yet been initiated.
Map data will be updated by the 15th of every month.
10-Year Sewer Capital Plan
Beginning with SPLOST VIII, and for the next 5 subsequent SPLOSTS, $1 Million per year will be dedicated to the repayment of the Sewer debt to be obtained in FY 2023. The next SPLOST referendum will be in November 2022. If approved by the voters, collections will begin in May 2023. In addition to debt issuance, a pay-as-you-go approach will be used to fund the CSO plan.
American Rescue Plan dollars and sewer fees will be used for this purpose. $5.4 Million in SPLOST proceeds will also be used in this manner over the next 10 years. This would require a 20% total commitment in SPLOST VIII proceeds, but only 10% in subsequent SPLOSTs. Any additional funding awards, such as grants or other federal dollars, will reduce these figures.
Terms & Definitions
1 Combined Sewer System: A sewer that accepts storm water, sanitary water/sewage, and most likely industrial wastewater which ideally is treated by a treatment plant owned treatment works (POTW). Under certain wet weather conditions, however, these sewer systems can become overloaded and release some of the untreated combined waste streams, these are known as combined sewer overflows (CSOs).
2 Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO): Overflow from a combined sewer system that contains not only storm water, but also untreated human and industrial waste, toxic materials, and debris. Ideally storm water is treated by a sewage/publicly owned treatment works (POTW) treatment plant.
3 Clean Water Act (CWA): Establishes the basic structure for regulating discharges of pollutants into the waters of the United States and regulating quality standards for surface waters.
4 Basin: A depression, or dip, in the Earth’s surface. Basins are shaped like bowls, with sides higher than the bottom. They can be oval or circular in shape.