District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority George S. Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Briefing on: DC Clean Rivers Project Green Infrastructure Program Potomac River Project A Briefing for: ANJEC Environmental Congress October 9, 2015
Agenda Background DC Clean Rivers Project Overview Consent Decree Modification Process Green Infrastructure Implementation Drivers for Long-term Success Next Steps Questions Green Roof at Fort Reno Reservoir 2
Background: Why Stormwater is a Problem in DC and Other Cities Natural Environment: 0% Impervious Surface Built Environment: 75-100% Impervious Surface 3
Background: Sewer Systems in DC Sunny Day Rainy Day* Combined Sewer System 1 pipe Combined Sewer Overflow = CSO Outfall pipe Outfall pipe Separate Sewer System 2pipes Outfall pipe Outfall pipe 4 *Discharge occurs when pipe s capacity is exceeded
Background: Where are Combined Sewers Located? Combined Sewer Drainage Area 1/3 area is combined (12,478 acres) 47 Active CSO outfalls 13 to Anacostia 10 to Potomac 24 to Rock Creek CSO Outfall Blue Plains Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Area Three receiving waters Anacostia River Potomac River Rock Creek 5
Tunnel Construction at DC Water DC CLEAN RIVERS PROJECT OVERVIEW Green Roof Installation at East Side Pumping Station 6
DC Clean Rivers Project: Magnitude of the Problem, DC Water s Solution 3500 1996 2013 LTCP Completed (DC Water Formed) 96% Reduction 3254 CSO Overflow (mg/avg year) 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 2142 1963 1282 1063 638 54 79 49 43 138 5 Anacostia River Potomac River Rock Creek Total System 7
DC Clean Rivers Project: Long Term Control Plan Timeline May 20, 2015 EPA/DOJ lodge Consent Decree Modification in District Court Public Participation Public Participation 8
DC Clean Rivers Project: Updated Plan DC CLEAN RIVERS PROJECT AND NITROGEN REMOVAL PROGRAMS DC Clean Rivers Project: $2.6 Billion Nitrogen Removal: $950 Million Total > $ 3.5 Billion 25 yr implementation (2005 2030) 96% reduction in CSOs & flood relief in Northeast Boundary Approx 1 million lbs/yr nitrogen reduction predicted 9
DC Clean Rivers Project: What is Green Infrastructure (GI)? Bioretention and Rain Gardens Permeable Pavement Rain Barrels and Cisterns Vegetated Swales Native Landscaping Green Roofs 10
DC Clean Rivers Project: Examples of Green Infrastructure in Cities Bioretention along Streets Permeable Pavement along Streets and in Alleys Other potential GI could include: Rain barrels, Cisterns, Green Roofs, etc. 11
DC Clean Rivers Project: Environmental, Social and Economic GI Benefits Environmental Reduce runoff Improve air quality Reduce summer temperatures Reduce energy usage Offset climate change Habitat improvement Social Enhance aesthetics Improve livability through green space Reduce scope and duration of disruption during construction Economic Create green jobs Enhance property values Improve quality of life 12
DC Clean Rivers Project: Progress on Tunnels DC Clean Rivers Project has let more than $1.2 Billion in Construction & Engineering Contracts 13
Pilot Green Roof Maintenance Training Program MOVING TOWARD GREEN CONSENT DECREE MODIFICATION PROCESS 14
Consent Decree Modification: Green Infrastructure for CSO Control is a Proven Technology City LTCP Time Frame (years) Consent Decree w/ Green? Annual Overflow Volume (Million Gallons) Before LTCP After LTCP % Reduction Kansas City (WSD) 25 Yes; 2010 6,400 768 88% Cleveland (NEORSD) 25 Yes; 2010 4,500 500 89% New York (DEP) 25 State approved; 2012 30,000 Philadelphia (PWD) 25 State approved (State 2011) (EPA Admin order 2012) 10,307 to 15,873 TBD City wide LTCP due 2017 5,100 to 7,900 TBD City wide LTCP due 2017 50% ± Other cities with Consent Decrees that include Green Infrastructure: Atlanta - St. Louis - Louisville - Cincinnati - Onondaga County (Syracuse) - NY 15
Consent Decree Modification: Public Comments on Modification Major public outreach effort GI Summit More than 14 public and ANC meetings NPR radio interview Social media, news articles, Youtube video and information depositories at libraries Website Dedicated e-mail address for receipt of digital comments Public notice Jan 12, 2014 Comment period ended April 14, 2014 92 day period (extended once by 30 days) 366 commenters submitted 471 comments 38% Summary of Comments Received 2% 60% Support Oppose Other 16
Consent Decree Modification: Summary of Commenters Environmental Groups Governmental ANCs, Civic Assoc. Other Citizens American Canoe Assoc. Anacostia Watershed Society DC Env. Network Derek Booth, PE, PG, PhD consultant for EarthJustice Friends of Earth National Resources Defense Council Potomac Conservancy Potomac Riverkeeper Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility Rock Creek Conservancy Sierra Club Wentworth Green Strategies Mayor Gray DC Council MWCOG NCPC Nat l Park Service ANC 1, 2A, 2E, 3B, 4A, 4C10 Citizens Assoc. of Georgetown Friends of Georgetown Waterfront Kennedy St. Development Assoc. Kingman Park Civic Assoc Ward 3 Apartment & Office Bldg Assoc. DC Building Industry Assoc. DC Greenworks Georgetown University NACWA Washington Parks and People Design firms/ consultants 177 letters via Wash. Interfaith Network Many citizen letters, e mails and notes via survey monkey 17
Consent Decree Modification: Feedback Incorporated into Plan 1. Nature of Commitment 2. Feasibility/ Effectiveness of GI 3. Schedule Manage the volume of runoff produced by 1.2" of rain falling on 365 impervious acres of land that currently does not absorb stormwater. First GI projects will be evaluated in terms of constructability, operability, efficacy, public acceptability and cost effectiveness. Schedule extension allows an adaptive management approach and optimize performance of GI technologies implemented. 4. Disruption due to Tunnel 5. Stewardship for Ratepayer Dollars 6. Maintenance Construction of gravity Potomac Tunnel eliminates the need of tunnel dewatering pumping station for the Potomac Tunnel. The LTCP Modification will extend the schedule for DC Clean Rivers Project, slowing rate increases. As with all DC Water infrastructure, regular maintenance will occur to maintain the performance of the GI. 7. Green Jobs GI will increase opportunities for local, green jobs both for construction and for long term maintenance of the facilities. 18
Consent Decree Modification: Next Steps Obtain documents & more information at http://www.dcwater.com/green LTCP Modification for Green Infrastructure Executive Summary Complete document (includes responses to comments in Appendix K) Comments received U.S. Government-established public comment period on LTCP Consent Decree Modification lodged with Court May 26 July 27 Modification entered with Court GI Challenge Kennedy Street Green Infrastructure Streetscape Project 19
Pilot Green Roof Maintenance Training Program GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IMPLEMENTATION NEXT STEPS 20
Green Infrastructure Implementation: Selection Criteria for First GI Projects Potomac River Project A / Rock Creek Project A Identification of project areas have been defined Selection criteria includes: Feasibility of Design and Construction Synergy with DC Agencies (DDOT, DOEE) Maximized Volume Capture Maximizing Triple Bottom Line Benefits Pre- and Post- Construction Monitoring Facilitation of Maintenance Minimized Cost Compatibility with neighborhood needs and aesthetics Potomac River GI Project Area Rock Creek GI Project Area 21
Green Infrastructure Implementation: Potomac River Project A Potomac River GI Area Potomac River Project A Cobblestone Streets Project Area: 42 nd Place NW to Wisconsin Ave NW and Fulton Street NW to U Street NW 37 th Street NW to 31 st Street NW and R Street NW to Canal Road NW Requirement: Manage 1.2 of stormwater runoff from 44 impervious acres Siting Criteria Includes: Maximize stormwater management volume at lowest cost Maximizing triple bottom line benefits Minimizing utility relocation Minimizing parking impacts Minimizing impact to trees and existing infrastructure Minimizing impacts to cultural and historic resources (i.e. cobblestone streets, etc.) 22
Green Infrastructure Implementation: Potomac River GI Projects Schedule Potomac River Project A Timeline: Total Duration: 2015-2020 RFP Development: 2015 - late 2016 Procurement: late 2016 - mid 2017 Design-Build: mid 2017-2019 Monitoring: 2019-2020 Public Outreach & Engagement Throughout Potomac Tunnel: 2020-2030 Sewer Separation: 2019-2023 If GI is determined to be practicable: 2 nd GI Project: 2020-2025 3 rd GI Project: 2023-2028 23
Green Infrastructure Implementation: Coordination with Agencies & Organizations Examples: District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Infrastructure coordination and synergies Department of Energy and the Environment (DOEE) Environmental protection District of Columbia Historical Preservation Office (DC SHPO) Historic and archeologic sites identification U.S. Commission of Fine Arts (CFA) Preserving the character of the District Old Georgetown Board (OGB) Preserving the character of Georgetown 24
Pilot Green Roof Maintenance Training Program DRIVERS FOR LONG TERM SUCCESS BEYOND VOLUME 25
Drivers for Long-term Success: Adaptive Management and Innovation Adaptive Management approach built in to program schedule to: Allow for lessons learned to be incorporated from subsequent projects Gain cost and performance efficiencies over time Facilitate maintenance Incorporate new and innovative technologies One innovation example - GI Challenge: Advance innovative technologies Demonstrate cost effective solutions Propose practical and implementable solutions that can be constructed GI Challenge Streetscape Project Permeable Pavement at Anacostia Water Pumping Station For additional information visit: http://www.dcwater.com/greenchallenge 26
Drivers for Long-term Success: DC Water Maintenance Program Goals Green Infrastructure is maintained and managed just as gray infrastructure assets DCCR s Green Infrastructure Maintenance Program goals: Function Ensure GI function to meet performance requirements. Safety Ensure public and maintenance crew safety. Aesthetics Ensure GI maintains the original project aesthetic goal. 27
Drivers for Long-term Success: Opportunity for Local, Green Jobs Green Jobs Memorandum of Agreement District of Columbia and DC Water Overall Goal 51% of new jobs created by contracts or procurements entered into by DC Water with third parties to implement GI required by modified decree are filled by District residents Applies to professional services, construction, inspection and maintenance activities Graduates of Pilot Green Roof Maintenance Training Program MOA Available at: dcwater.com/green ( Resources Section) 28
Next Steps: Potomac River Project A Field Investigations DC Water is conducting field investigations in the Potomac River GI Project area that consists of site surveys and soil borings to gather background information for the design of GI to be constructed Survey (July Nov 2015) Soil Boring (Nov 2015 Jan 2016) Second Public Meeting Early December 2015 - Date TBD Present potential sites for GI implementation and seek input from public 29
Questions? DC Water DC Clean Rivers Project Bethany Bezak, PE, LEED AP Green Infrastructure Manager Email: Bethany.Bezak@dcwater.com Phone: 202-787-4466 Caitlin Feehan, PE, LEED AP Green Infrastructure Planning Coordinator Email: Caitlin.Feehan@dcwater.com Phone: 202-787-4784 PARK(ing) Day, 2014 30