HomeMy Public PortalAbout2006.08.03 Governor Congressional DEQ Briefing - Wastewater Facility Plan McCall Waste_
STATE OF IDAHO
GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
CONGRESSIONAL STAFF
AND
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
BRIEFING
Thursday, August 3, 2006
Friday, August 4, 2006
McCall Wastew ti -
City of McCall Wastewater Facilities Plan Overview
WHAT The planning process for the City of McCall's future wastewater treatment needs.
WHY Current and future demands on the City of McCall's wastewater treatment system
indicate a clear need for planning,developing and implementing a long-term solution
for treating the area's wastewater.
WHO General public/ratepayers
City of McCall elected officials
City of McCall staff
Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District officials
Technical Working Group of wastewater treatment experts
Policy Advisory Committee
Elected officials
Regulatory agency officials
WHEN May 2006 through June 2007
PLANNING
PROCESS The City of McCall is working with its contracted engineering firm team (CH2MHill)
to undertake a thorough planning process to develop an effective long-term solution
to the McCall area's future wastewater treatment needs. The process briefly outlined
below includes techniques recognized by the wastewater treatment industry as being
"state of the practice" for public involvement,agency coordination and community
outreach. The overall process will include the following elements:
• Gauge public awareness of wastewater treatment situation
• Inform general public of wastewater facilities planning process
• Community meetings and focus groups with McCall area general public
regarding wastewater situation and potential solutions
• Ongoing communication with general public regarding planning process
• Technical Working Group of wastewater treatment experts to advise on
potential solutions
• Policy Advisory Committee of elected officials,regulatory agency officials
and other key groups to review and advise on potential solutions
• City of McCall approval and adoption of official wastewater treatment
facilities plan
• City of McCall implementation of long-term solution to wastewater
treatment needs
STATUS Work completed as of July 31:
• Technical analysis of existing and future conditions
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McCall Wastewater -FcU4e , Plan-
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• First round of meetings with Technical Working Group,Policy Advisory
Committee and general public
Work to be completed between August 1, 2006 and December 31,2006:
• Development and screening of initial alternatives
• Evaluation of alternatives
• Two rounds of meetings with Technical Working Group,Policy Advisory
Committee and general public
MORE
INFORMATION
For more information, please visit http://www.mccall.id.us/ and click on
Wastewater Facilities Plan.
7
Executive Summary
This Executive Summary of the Wastewater Facilities Plan Technical Memorandum
addressing Existing Conditions, Demographics,Flows and Loads,and Future Effluent
Limitations provides background documentation that will be used to develop a new
wastewater facilities plan for the City of McCall(the City). This wastewater facilities plan
will provide a road map that can be used by City leadership and staff to implement required
improvements to the existing City facilities. It will provide the City with a flexible tool that
can be used to assist in the decision-making process for the various wastewater service
needs and objectives identified.
The wastewater facilities plan will update the City's previous City of McCall Facility Plan
Report(J-U-B Engineers Inc. [JUB], 1996a). It will take into account the direction the City
established in its Comprehensive Plan (City of McCall,2000)and in subsequent planning
efforts.Wastewater facilities planning will address issues known to be a problem with either
the wastewater collection or treatment systems.
In this document, the City of McCall and the Impact Area are referred to collectively as the
Wastewater Facilities Planning Area.The objectives for the McCall wastewater facilities plan
are to develop and implement a plan that will provide wastewater collection and treatment
services for the Wastewater Facilities Planning Area through the planning period.The
planning period is generally defined by the following schedule:
• 2006-2008—Planning,siting,permitting,financing,approvals
• 2008-2009—Permitting,financing,engineering design, approvals
• 2010-2013—Bidding,awarding,constructing, starting, testing(assume new facilities are
on-line during 2013)
• 2013—Year 1 of 20-year planning period
• 2018—Year 5 of 20-year planning period
• 2023—Year 10 of 20-year planning period
• 2033—Year 20 of 20-year planning period
Because of the financial impact of constructing new wastewater facilities and the difficulty
of financing these improvements solely through rate increases,especially in a small
community,the City will likely seek sources of funding. In order to qualify for funding,the
proposed improvements must be included in a comprehensive wastewater facilities plan
that provides reliable estimates of population and economic growth and wastewater flows
and loads over a defined planning horizon. The wastewater facilities plan that will be
produced will lay the foundation for development of new treatment and conveyance
systems while allowing for approval and funding of critical interim actions to comply with
regulations.
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This Executive Summary describes the existing situation and identifies uncertainties
associated with changing demographics;service area changes for the City and its customers;
varying contributions from both current and future customers;and future effluent
limitations and discharge requirements. It includes information about:
• Existing Conditions
• Demographics
• Flows and Loads
• Future Effluent Limitation Scenarios
Existing Conditions
Wastewater collection service within the City of McCall is provided by the City of McCall
and the Payette Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District. Both entities operate and
maintain separate wastewater collection systems that consist of gravity sewers and
wastewater pumping stations.The wastewater collected in these systems is discharged to
the City of McCall's wastewater treatment plant,which is located southwest of town.The
City operates the wastewater treatment plant,which provides wastewater treatment,winter
storage,and land application.
The land application system,also referred to as the J-Ditch,blends McCall's treated
wastewater with irrigation water and applies the mixture to pasture and crop land during
the summer irrigation season. During the winter,the treated wastewater is stored in a pond.
Utilizing these facilities has eliminated the City of McCall's discharge of treated wastewater
to surface waters such as the North Fork of the Payette River. However, the storage pond
has been estimated to leak up to 30 million gallons during the non-irrigation storage season.
Allowable leakage per the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality(IDEQ)is 1/8-inch
per day,or about 23 million gallons per year. Efforts have been,and continue to be,made to
reduce the leakage,but those efforts have not resulted in meeting the IDEQ requirements. In
addition,a shortfall in land application system capacity from that which was planned in the
Facility Plan Report(JUB,1996a) is real and substantial.
Since capacity at the existing wastewater treatment plant and winter storage pond is limited,
a solution for future treatment needs to be found and implemented. In the meantime, the
City must maintain compliance with regulations and permit requirements until a new
solution or additional capacity is in place.
Demographics
Public interest in wastewater issues in McCall has been high. Development and population
growth is a key concern of the community. For example,between 2000 and 2005,the
number of City of McCall residential building permits issued increased exponentially,from
33 to 316.The"Staff Report Housing Ordinances,City of McCall and McCall Impact Area"
(City of McCall,2006a) indicates that the City had 3,056 housing units in 2005 and that there
will be an additional 1,500 housing units(that is,4,556 total housing units)by 2015.
Currently,the City's Wastewater Policy(Resolution 06-08)restricts the distribution of
equivalent dwelling units for housing construction to about 156 per year. It has been
ES-2 REVISED DRAFT B01061560003.DOC/KM
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
assumed that these restrictions will not be lifted until additional wastewater treatment
capacity is constructed.
Table ES-1 provides estimates of the number of existing permanent residents,second-home
residents,and tourist equivalents in the Wastewater Facilities Planning Area on an average
annual basis and during peak seasons. These numbers are used as the base for projecting
population estimates.
TABLE ES-1
Population Equivalent Estimates for the Wastewater Facilities Planning Area(2005)
Population Category Population Base Average Annual Population Peak Population
Permanent Residents 3,570a 3,570 3,570
Second-Home Residents 5,350a 1,600b 5,350`
Tourist Equivalents 830d 460e 830f
Total Population Equivalents 9,750 5,630 9,750
aDerived from the number of dwelling units served by the City's wastewater collection system and by the Payette
Lakes Recreational Water and Sewer District wastewater collection system plus an estimate of the number of
dwelling units they do not serve. It has been assumed that 40 percent of the dwelling units are permanent
residences and 60 percent of them are second homes(U.S. Census Bureau, 2000). In addition, it has been
assumed that there are 2.2 people per dwelling unit(Rees Consulting, 2005).
bAssumes second homes are occupied 30 percent of the year on average.
cAssumes second homes are occupied 100 percent during peak seasons.
dThe tourist population has been estimated using information on the number of lodging rooms and estimated
occupancy rates(CH2M HILL, 2005e). It has been assumed that, on average,there are three"pillows" occupied
per lodging room. It is an"equivalent"population because the estimates have been reduced by a factor of 0.8.
This means that a tourist would contribute about 80 percent of the wastewater flow and load that a permanent or
second-home resident would contribute.
'Assumes tourist"pillows"are occupied 50 percent of the year on average.
(Assumes tourist"pillows"are occupied 90 percent of the time during peak seasons.
The population growth scenarios provide estimates for years 2006,2013,2018,2023,and
2033. For the calculations through 2012,it has been assumed that 156 single-family homes
will be constructed each year given the City's Wastewater Policy(Resolution 06-08). It has
been assumed that there will be an average of 2.2 people per single-family housing unit.
Some of the 100 other sewer hookups will be used for hotel/motel construction. It has been
assumed that the number of lodging rooms will increase at a rate of 6.5 percent per year
from 2006 through 2012.
Three scenarios of population growth(and consequent wastewater flow)have been
developed—low,medium,and high. Beginning in 2013, the growth scenarios annually
increase the base estimated average annual permanent resident,second-home resident,and
tourist equivalent populations by 1.5 percent(low),3.5 percent(medium),and 6.5 percent
(high).
Each of the permanent-resident and second-home population growth scenarios (low,
medium, and high) are compared to a projected build out of dwelling units. It has been
- assumed that there might be the equivalent of approximately 16,713 single-family dwelling
units with 36,770 people at build out of the Wastewater Facilities Planning Area.Table ES-2
summarizes the projected peak populations for the growth scenarios and compares the
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
permanent-resident and second-home populations to the projected build-out population of
dwelling units.
TABLE ES-2
Estimates of Wastewater Facilities Planning Area Projected Peak Populations for 2012,2018,2023,and 2033 Compared to
Dwelling-Unit Build-Out Population(36,770 people)a Using Low,Medium,and High Population Growth Scenarios
%Growth/ Year of
Scenario Year 2012b 2018 2023 2033 Build Out
Low Population Growth Scenario 1.5% 12,610 13,780 14,860 17,240
Permanent-resident and second-home 1.5% 11,322 12,370 13,330 15,470 2092
population
Tourist-equivalent population 1.5% 1,285 1,410 1,530 1,770
Medium Population Growth Scenario 3.5% 12,610 15,490 18,370 25,920
Permanent-resident and second-home 3.5% 11,322 13,910 16,500 23,290 2047
population
Tourist-equivalent population 3.5% 1,285 1,580 1,870 2,630
High Population Growth Scenario 6.5% 12,610 18,380 25,190 47,310
Permanent-resident and second-home 6.5% 11,322 16,510 22,630 42,500 2031
population
Tourist-equivalent population 6.5% 1,285 1,870 2,560 4,810
aThe dwelling-unit build-out estimate uses the current zoning districts and existing Wastewater Facilities Planning
Area boundary and assumes that dwelling units in the Wastewater Facilities Planning Area will be built at
100 percent of allowable density on the potential net developable acreage(that is acreage not owned by the City
or within the Dr. Nokes/University of Idaho Conservation Area).
bFrom 2006 through 2012,the scenarios assume that there will be no more than 156 dwelling units built each
year and the number of lodging rooms will increase by 6.5 percent per year.
Flow and Load Projections
Flow and load projections for the 20-year planning period and for each of the three growth
scenarios were made based on existing system characteristics and population projections.
Treatment facilities at the McCall Wastewater Treatment Facility(WWTF)need to be
designed to handle the hourly,daily,weekly,monthly, and seasonal variability in flow.
Conveyance and outfall systems will need to be designed to handle peak hour flows.To
estimate these conditions,historical McCall WWTF flow conditions were evaluated to
establish peaking factors. To estimate the future average day flows at the McCall WWTF,
historical per capita flow data were applied to the projected population estimates. In
addition, peaking factors were applied to the resulting values to estimate other flow
scenarios necessary for sizing additional facilities at the McCall WWTF.
To estimate the future average day loads at the McCall WWTF, assumed pollutant
concentrations were used with the historical per capita flow data and applied to the
projected population estimates. Assumed pollutant concentrations were used since influent
pollutant concentrations are not measured. It has been requested that a composite sampler
be installed at the McCall WWTF to better establish wastewater loading parameters.
ES-4 REVISED DRAFT 801061560003.DOC/KM
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Assumed peaking factors were applied to the resulting values to estimate other load
scenarios that are necessary for sizing additional treatment facilities at the McCall WWTF.
Again,historical variability in McCall influent load is not available since influent pollutant
concentrations are not measured. Table ES-3 summarizes the per capita flow and load
factors that were established and used for estimating future flows and loads at the McCall
WWTF.
TABLE ES-3
Per Capita Flow and Load Factors
Parameter Assumptions
Per capita flow rate 80 gpcpd
Per capita 5-day biochemical oxygen demand(BOD5)rate 0.15 ppcpd
Per capita total suspended solids(TSS)rate 0.15 ppcpd
gpcpd =gallons per capita per day
ppcpd =pounds per capita per day
Using the per capita factors in Table ES-3,projected flows and loads for the 20-year
planning periods were developed.Table ES-4 gives the projected flows and loads at the
McCall WWTF for the high population projection scenario (6.5 percent growth) and the 5-,
10-,and 20-year planning periods. The projections include projected variations on daily,
weekly,monthly, and hourly flows and loads typically required for facility planning and
preliminary sizing.
TABLE ES-4
Flow and Load Projections for 6.5 Percent Growth Scenario
2013 through 2018 2018 through 2023 2023 through 2033
Population 16,510 22,630 42,500
Flows(mgd)
Minimum Hour 0.5 0.7 1.4
Minimum Day 0.7 1.0 1.8
Minimum Month 0.8 1.1 2.1
Average Daily 1.3 1.8 3.4
Maximum Month 2.5 3.4 6.4
Maximum 7-day 3.0 4.1 7.7
Maximum Day 3.5 4.9 9.1
Peak Hour 4.3 5.9 11.1
BOD(ppd)
Average Daily 2,478 3,397 6,380
Maximum Month 3,222 4,416 8,294
Maximum 7-day 3,718 5,096 9,570
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TABLE ES-4
Flow and Load Projections for 6.5 Percent Growth Scenario
2013 through 2018 2018 through 2023 2023 through 2033
TSS(ppd)
Average Daily 2,478 3,397 6,380
Maximum Month 3,222 4,416 8,294
Maximum 7-day 3,718 5,096 9,570
TKN(ppd)
Average Daily 386 528 992
Maximum Month 501 687 1,290
Maximum 7-day 578 793 1,489
Total Phosphorus(ppd)
Average Daily 88 121 227
Maximum Month 115 157 295
Maximum 7-day 132 181 340
mgd=million gallons per day
ppd=pounds per day
Future Effluent Limitation Scenarios
The Future Effluent Limitation Scenarios section establishes effluent discharge limitations
and modifications to the existing limits.This process forecasts probable effluent limitations
scenarios and provides the flexibility that is needed in the wastewater facilities planning
process.
The current regulatory basis for wastewater treatment and discharge is established by the
federal and state requirements that are currently in place.The federal Clean Water Act
requires that states and tribes restore and maintain the chemical,physical,and biological
integrity of the nation's waters.States and tribes must adopt water quality standards
necessary to protect fish,shellfish,and wildlife while providing for recreation in and on the
waters whenever possible (IDEQ,2006a). In addition, Idaho Water Quality Standards and
Wastewater Treatment Requirements(Idaho Administrative Procedures Act 58.01.02.140.16)
protect the North Fork of the Payette River from Payette Lake to Cascade Reservoir for the
following beneficial use classifications:cold water aquatic life,salmonid spawning,primary
contact recreation,and domestic water supply.
Particularly relevant to wastewater facilities planning is understanding the likelihood for
revisions to the federal and state discharge requirements. Ultimately,the wastewater
facilities plan must prepare alternatives that will not only meet today's regulatory
• environment,but also provide flexibility to meet as yet undetermined and undefined
discharge requirements.
ES-6 REVISED DRAFT B01061560003.DOC/KM
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of McCall's WWTF currently operates under the provisions contained in a Consent
Order between IDEQ and the City.The consent order eliminated McCall's treated
wastewater discharge to the North Fork of the Payette River except as allowed under the
emergency provisions contained in the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
(NPDES) permit.The original Consent Order has been modified twice, and is now referred
to as the Second Amended Consent Order. Among other topics, the Second Amended
Consent Order contains the wastewater treatment and discharge requirements for the
McCall WWTF.
Wastewater treatment facilities must treat wastewater to acceptable levels prior to discharge
to the environment.Treated wastewater is discharged to air,to surface water, to the
subsurface,and to land application for beneficial use.
Discharge to the land is considered water reuse, and IDEQ's reuse regulations are
applicable. McCall's current wastewater treatment system discharges to land. It is assumed
that Class C would be the reuse designation for McCall's wastewater treatment system prior
to its blending with irrigation water.Given the Cascade Reservoir total maximum daily load
(TMDL) that prohibits McCall's discharge to surface water,it is likely that McCall's future
wastewater treatment will involve treating wastewater to levels acceptable for reclaimed
water uses.
B01061560003.DOC/KM REVISED DRAFT ES-7
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Wastewater Facilities Plan
Agency Review Technical Memorandum
At-a-Glance
Overview
The following technical memorandum is the first step in the overall wastewater facilities
planning process. It will be used by the Technical Working Group,the Policy Advisory
Committee,and City of McCall officials to help inform the discussion of the policy decisions
regarding future wastewater treatment in the McCall area. Moreover,it provides important
background information that will be critical to ensuring thorough public knowledge and
participation throughout the planning process.
The McCall Area Must Address the Current Wastewater Situation
The current wastewater treatment process is inadequate to meet the future needs of the
McCall area. A number of important factors severely limit the long-term capacity of the
current system. In fact,the current system will only be able to meet the area's needs through
2012,based on limitation of connections between now and the development of additional
capacity.These limitations include: capacity at the winter storage pond;the availability of
land on which the treated effluent is applied during the irrigation season;and cost of
securing future land for additional capacity and land application.Taken as a whole,the
existing conditions combined with future growth,even such growth that is very limited,
indicate clearly the area needs to develop a long-term solution.
Population Growth Projections
An important element in making the right decision regarding the future of the wastewater
treatment is population growth. A thorough technical demographic analysis of population
growth was undertaken in the preparation of the memorandum.Three scenarios (low
growth,medium growth,and high growth)were projected to provide information for the
general public,Technical Working Group,and the Policy Advisory Committee to consider
as the discussion about the long-term solution options takes place. Ultimately,the City of
McCall will use all of the information and discussions to make a determination about the
best solution for the area's long-term needs.The graph on the following page outlines the
analysis of the three growth scenarios.
•
9
WASTEWATER FACILITIES PLAN AT-A-GLANCE
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2012 2018 2023 2028 2C33
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It is important to note that this graph projects a build-out figure for whatever the future
facility decision is that will meet the needs of the area for the long-term, regardless of the
actual growth that occurs.This is part of a sound planning process designed to meet the
needs of the future,whatever the area decides that future holds in terms of growth.
Conclusion
The City of McCall is undertaking this planning process to ensure the best decision is made.
By involving the general public,the Technical Working Group,and the Policy Advisory
Committee,City officials will help ensure the very best long-term solution for the area.
Again,this technical memorandum is designed to provide the technical background
information needed for a complete discussion,and ultimately a decision by the City of
McCall on the future of wastewater treatment in the area.
2
McCall Wastewate _Fac*Ut PLw• I
Summary of Public Workshop Series — Round 1 —July 2006
The City of McCall hosted the first round of public workshop sessions to share information and
obtain input on the development of the Wastewater Facilities Plan. The workshop series was
conducted July 24-26,2006 in Legion Hall. Several focus group sessions with stakeholder groups
were held throughout the three days and a general public session was held on July 26 in the evening.
The purpose of the first round of workshops was to provide background information about the
city's current wastewater system and facilities,including the lack of capacity to serve the long-term
needs of the community. The city's consultant team presented an overview of the proposed
planning and public involvement process for developing the Wastewater Facilities Plan. The team
also presented information about the current system and the planning area for the wastewater
system. The team confirmed that the wastewater planning process will be concurrent with the city's
upcoming comprehensive planning process and that population growth rate assumptions
determined through the comprehensive planning process will help to guide decisions about the
sizing and parameters of the wastewater system.
Over 50 people attended workshop sessions to learn about the city's current system and provide
input to the planning process. A variety of perspectives and comments were provided. Some of the
most common perspectives shared by workshop participants are summarized below.
• Workshop participants were generally supportive of the need to develop a comprehensive
wastewater facilities plan and felt the process should proceed ahead as quickly as possible to
ensure the long-term needs of the community are adequately addressed.
• Participants encouraged close coordination with the city's overall comprehensive planning
process and requested that realistic long-term population growth rates appropriate for
McCall be determined as part of the comprehensive planning process. Of the 1.5%, 3.5%
and 6.5%growth rates presented as possible scenarios to guide planning,workshop
participants tended to state that the 1.5°o rate seemed too low and the 6.5°'o too high in
representing the possible long-term, sustainable growth rates of the community.
• Workshop attendees encouraged research into other resort and second home communities
to determine comparative growth rates experienced, as well as the range of wastewater
treatment solutions being implemented in these areas that face similar challenges as McCall
(i.e. winter time affects on the system,influx of tourists at peak periods,and seasonal
population increases.)
• Workshop participants encouraged implementation of a public education component in
conjunction with the wastewater facilities plan to broaden community awareness about the
variety of opportunities related to wastewater reclamation and reuse. Educational materials
should address the types of treatment and reuse occurring in other communities throughout
the US,water quality results experienced with varying levels of wastewater treatment,and
other environmental considerations (such as water conservation and aquifer recharge
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Summary of Public Workshop Series— Round 1 —July 2006, Continued
McCall Wastewater Facilities Plan
potential). Participants encouraged the idea of working with McCall community students in
helping to broaden awareness of these issues and opportunities.
• Participants expressed that the McCall community would likely be accepting of a variety of
wastewater reuse applications,such as irrigation of golf courses and green spaces.
• Participants asked that relative costs of potential solutions be presented, along with
evaluation criteria for choosing a preferred solution,at the next round of public meetings
this fall.
Please refer to the City of McCall website for more detailed notes from the workshop summary
sessions,along with other information and technical documents related to the wastewater facilities
plan development: ww'..v.mccall.id.us
Next Steps and Project Schedule
There will be many people involved in developing long-term solutions for the community's
wastewater facilities system. The city is undertaking a thorough and open planning process because
it's important that the general public is involved and informed. A Technical Working Group
(wastewater experts with knowledge of the current system and regulatory issues) and a Policy
Advisory Committee (elected officials and regulatory agency representatives) are also critical
participants and will be meeting regularly during the planning process.
The planning process should be complete by June of 2007,at which point the City Council will
adopt a Wastewater Facilities Plan that includes the details and timeframes for implementing the
selected long-term option. Public workshops will be held at key milestones in the process.
The next round of public workshops will be held in October 2006. The next round of workshops
will focus on the "toolbox" of potential wastewater treatment and management options and
solutions. Relative costs of implementing these options and other important considerations will be
presented. Draft evaluation criteria for determining the preferred solution or solutions for McCall
also will be presented for public review and input. Refer to local newspapers and the city's website
for meeting announcements and periodic updates on the planning process.
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