Residential Sewer Lateral Maintenance Program Analysis

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Residential Sewer Lateral Maintenance Program
Analysis

• Prepared for
• City of Milwaukee, Department of Administration,
• Budget and Management Division
• May 7, 2010

By Caroline Ellerkamp, Erin Fifield, Amy
Klusmeier, Julie K. Ruder, and Erik R. Viel
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Outline

• Introduction
• Background Research Approach
• Research Findings Program Goals
• Program Alternatives
• Recommendation
• MMSD Private Property I/I Reduction Program

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Introduction

• Why Laterals?
• Sanitary System Overflows
• Infiltration and Inflow (I/I)
• Environment and Public Health
• Violations of State Federal Regulation

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Sewer Laterals - Milwaukee
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Sewer Lateral Failure

• Caused by a range of factors
• Difficult to identify
• Cost of Maintenance
• Inspection 300
• Repair 5,000

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Research Question
Which program should the city of Milwaukee
implement to encourage residential property
owners to maintain private property sanitary
sewer laterals?
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Background

• Milwaukees sewer system
• Private sewer laterals 250,000
• Residential laterals 171,100
• Laterals in need of repair ?

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Background

• Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD)
• Monitors tributary sewer flows
• Can fine municipalities for high levels of I/I
• Issued Milwaukee an unofficial warning for I/I
  violations
• Established a Private Property I/I Reduction
  Program

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Research Approach
Comprehensive Literature and Internet Research
Phase One 78 Municipalities 44 Responded 24
Lateral Maintenance Programs 56 Response Rate
Phase Two 13 Municipalities
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Research Findings

• 13 cities, representing different program types
• In-depth understanding innovative practices

Grant Insurance Loan Combination
Atlanta, GA Fort Worth, TX Racine, WI Madison, WI Davenport, IA Florissant, MO Pittsburgh, PA St. Paul, MN Bryan, TX (Grant, Assessment) Knoxville, TN (Inspection, Loan) Pacifica, CA (Inspection, Grant) Plano, TX (Grant, CDBG) San Mateo, CA (Grant, Loan)
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Research Findings
Three Program Components

• Funding Mechanism
• Eligibility and Assistance Criteria
• Implementation Strategy

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Program Goals
Affordability
Political Feasibility
Effectiveness
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Program Alternatives

• Status Quo
• Alternative 1 Insurance Program
• Alternative 2 Loan Program

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Status Quo
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Alternative 1 Insurance Program
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Alternative 2 Loan Program
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Recommendation

• Alternative 1 Insurance Program

Affordability
Self funded Spreads financial burden
Political Feasibility
Fee increase incremental change from status quo
Effectiveness
Premium provides incentive contractor list
education campaign
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Recommendation

• Revenue
• 20 annual fee on 142,578 residential water
  accounts 2.85 million
• Expenditures
• 50,000 annual allocation for education campaign
• Four hours of staff time per lateral at 29 per
  hour

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Supplemental ProgramMMSD Private Property I/I
Reduction Program
Program Components

• Limited, short-term funding
• Reimburses cost of lateral repair
• Requires 25 match contribution
• 2010 allocation for Milwaukee 364,153

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Supplemental ProgramMMSD Private Property I/I
Reduction Program
Target High I/I Neighborhoods Develop Baseline
Analysis of Lateral Failure Rates
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Conclusion
Maintaining water quality is essential to
preserve the economic vitality, public and
environmental health, and aesthetic character and
identity of Milwaukee.
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Additional Information

• For copies of report, email
• publications_at_lafollette.wisc.edu