8 minute read
Wastewater Collection System Asset Management Toolkit
by Lacey Hirschvogel
The Missouri Public Utility Alliance Resource Service Corporation (MPUA RSC) recognized that addressing aging wastewater collection system infrastructure is consistently one of the most important challenges currently facing small and medium-sized communities in Missouri. The pressure to address these increasing investment needs has been compounded by the need to meet new and complex regulatory requirements while utility revenues remain stagnant or decrease. This situation has forced many small and mid-sized communities to become reactive and focus their funding resources on addressing immediate or urgent needs while reducing planning and budgeting efforts needed to maintain or improve levels of service for their community.
To assist small and medium-sized communities in maximizing public funds and improving long-term infrastructure planning efforts, MPUA RSC hired HDR Engineering, Inc. (HDR) to assist in developing a userfriendly, scalable Wastewater Collection System Asset Management Toolkit (Toolkit) that utility leaders can use to establish, build, and grow their own collection system asset management plans. The Toolkit was funded by the Planning and Technical Assistance Grant provided by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.
MPUA and HDR worked collaboratively with a steering committee to develop a basic set of flexible guidance and tools designed to help utilities plan for cost-effective rehabilitation, repairs or replacement of assets; identify how to prioritize and budget for future infrastructure improvements; implement best practices needed to execute the program; and maintain compliance with the permitted Capacity, Management, Operation and Maintenance (CMOM) requirements. The steering committee understood the importance of implementing an asset management program geared toward collection system assets. Their feedback confirmed that an asset management template available to small and mediumsized communities would enhance the reduction of inflow and infiltration, improve levels of service, and reduce unnecessary spending. The Toolkit consists of detailed guidance and an excel spreadsheet categorized into three planning modules: Module 1 – Assessment and Inventory Plan Module 2 – Risk and Rehabilitation Forecasting Plan Module 3 – Implementation Plan What could updated infrastructure mean for your community?
Infrastructure Investment
Updating treatment plants, smart metering and process improvements can improve long-term utility operations within your city. Energy Savings Updating your city with energy efficient systems like LED lighting can help save money, and be more sustainable. Economic Growth Updated and modern facilities can bring economic stimulation and job growth to your community. For more information, contact Peter Hinkle: peter.hinkle@se.com (913) 433-6609
Jason Choate – Director of Water Services, Carthage Water and Electric Plant
Each module is written to provide streamlined and actionable guidance, tools and applications that can be incorporated into their existing programs. Each module contains a set of attachments including flowcharts, matrices or excel files that lead to a thoughtful and data-driven asset management program.
Module 1 – Assessment And Inventory Plan
The objectives of the assessment and inventory plan module are to help utility managers develop a baseline understanding of their existing assets; identify potential short- and long-term level of service goals and performance measures; and create and maintain a pipe and manhole asset inventory. First the module recommends that utilities evaluate existing systems and identify existing gaps. Then, utilities can establish their level of service goals and begin to track performance. The module provides a menu of potential level of service goals and performance measures to think through while identifying any gaps the utility may have as it relates to providing reliable service to customers and achieving high inflow and infiltration reductions. Finally, the module provides a template for adding the collection system inventory into a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is organized according to a three-tiered structure to help utilities begin thinking along the lines of either an age-based forecast model or a risk-based forecast model. Either forecast model can be run depending on the level of information captured within the asset inventory.
Module 2 was built to provide utilities with high-level guidance on how to establish sustainable decision-making processes that support the successful implementation of identified improvement initiatives and rehabilitation work. The objectives of the risk and rehabilitation forecasting plan
No one can predict when service lines
will fail.
Over 240,000 water main breaks occur each year in the U.S.* There are more than 800,000 miles of public sewers susceptible to structural failure.*
Join the more than 900 partners
that have chosen to work with us to help protect their homeowners.
•Educates homeowners about their service line responsibilities •Provides solutions that help address aging residential infrastructure •Offers affordable plans to protect homeowners from the high cost of service line repairs •No cost to the city Contact us to learn more: Emilie Zalfini, Regional Director 412.527.2511 • Emilie.Zalfini@homeserveusa.com www.NLC.org/serviceline
*https://www.infrastructurereportcard.org
MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING
Experienced In Grant Funded Civil Engineering Projects For Cities
We have worked with many local governments and school districts across the State of Missouri over the last half-decade to apply for and obtain funding, provide civil and structural engineering design services, and provide construction administration services for the construction of grant funded projects. That experience is one advantage of working with TOTH as it also represents our excellent record for staying within budget and meeting strict project timelines.
TOTH HAS SECURED & ADMINISTERED
IN GRANT FUNDING
417.888.0645 | tothassociates. com 1550 E. Republic Road Springfield, MO 65804 CONSULTING CIVIL ENGINEERS Potable Water | Stormwater Management | Wastewater | Transportation Site Development | Construction Service | Utility Rates | Grant Writing & Administration
are to assist utility managers with applying the asset inventory identified in Module 1 to decision-making processes; characterizing the system risk using age of material along with other standardized failure criteria; and forecasting system rehabilitation needs and costs.
Module 2 also provides step-by-step guidance to operating the spreadsheet forecasting model run through Microsoft Excel. The spreadsheet model can be tailored to meet the unique needs and desired inputs of each community. The model outputs were built to be useful for communicating to the utility’s leadership the risk of failure for each identified asset. This section provides a variety of tabular outputs, charts and graphs that can be personalized based on the community’s education and outreach needs.
Tabular outputs: The tabular outputs provide a summary of results by individual pipe asset, manhole and collectively for the entire system. Users can extract the data to conduct their own analyses or incorporate them into their own platforms. The summary includes the forecasted cost for each individual asset and the estimated replacement year. If desired, the costs can be updated based on actual costs from an existing contract.
Graphical outputs: The graphical outputs include bar charts depicting the forecasted rehabilitation costs for the entire planning horizon and established planning periods. In addition to the bar charts, the Toolkit includes a series of dynamic dashboards that can be used to quickly evaluate or summarize system information. The bar charts and dashboard charts are editable and can be copied and pasted into other spreadsheets, documents or slideshows for an easy visual communication method.
Module 3 – Implementation Plan
Lacey Hirschvogel is a utility planning specialist within the utility management group of HDR, Inc. She provides technical and planning assistance for municipal water and wastewater utilities. Much of her work focuses on navigating through the environmental, financial, and socioeconomic impacts state and federal requirements place on municipal utilities. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Florida and a Master of Public Affairs degree at the University of Missouri.
Developing a structured asset management program can feel like a daunting task. Module 3 was created to guide utility leaders through a streamlined approach to asset management development and implementation. The module provides best practices for considering organizational capacity needs; identifying your asset management team; implementing continuous improvement; and enhancing community engagement efforts.
Asset management is a continuous journey for every community. Utilities with the most successful asset management programs routinely track, review and adjust program elements over time to improve program execution and better achieve system goals. This toolkit is meant to provide utility leaders with easy-to-use resources to establish the foundational elements of an asset management program. Creating an organized space for understanding the asset risks of the city’s collection system can lead to optimized improvements of a city’s overall wastewater treatment infrastructure.
The Toolkit is available to the public free of charge through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Each module was built as a PDF and can be read through any PDF reader. The spreadsheets were built using Microsoft Excel and will run through compatible software. For more information please contact Josh Youngblood at JYoungblood@mpua.org, Lacey Hirschvogel at Lacey.Hirschvogel@hdrinc.com, or Stacia Bax at Stacia.Bax@dnr.mo.gov.
Missouri’s Municipal Trust
Protect your growing community! Risk management is our priority. Mirma.org 573-817-2554
Providing work comp, auto, property, liability coverages, and so much more for municipalities since 1981.
