ETOWAH WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY

GENERAL MANAGER’S REPORT

December 2015

Administrative Department

December 2015

Etowah Water & Sewer Authority’s mission is to improve the quality of life for our customers, our community and environment through proper management of our water resources.

Etowah Water & Sewer Authority commits to support all of the citizens of Dawson County and economic development with water services.

Department Description: The Administrative Department interacts with local and state leaders and officials, regulatory agencies, customers, developers, engineers, accountants, attorneys, and others as required to carry out the business of the Authority as envisioned and approved by the Board of Directors. The Administrative Department also works very close with all department managers and personnel in helping to meet the daily operational and functional needs within the Authority. Each department operates throughout the year on a fixed budget prepared and submitted to the General Manager, which he reviews and amends, then presents to our Board of Directors for approval.

Update Provided By: Brooke Anderson, General Manager

Major Work Activities: Continued working on Russell Creek Reservoir Continued to work with Engineering and Construction

on Hwy 400/S.R. 53 Utilities Relocation Project Continued working on FY16 Budget Contract Renewals

Etowah River

Customer Service Department

December 2015

Department Description: Customer Service Department bills and processes all payments for water and sewer customers monthly. The Department receives and responds to customer related issues daily including issuing work orders for internal and external staff to investigate issues when needed. Update Provided by: Patty Day, Customer Service ManagerWater Customers added: Residential: 9- ¾, Commercial: Year to Date: Residential: 74- ¾ 1-1” Commercial: 1-1”Sewer Customers added: Residential: 6-¾ Commercial: Year to Date: Residential: 33-¾ 1-1” Commercial: 1-1”Active Residential Water Accounts: 4893Active Commercial Water Accounts: 345Vacant Residential Water Accounts: 388Vacant Commercial Water Accounts: 20Empty Boxes for Water Accounts: 533Active Residential Sewer Accounts: 233Active Commercial Sewer Accounts: 246Vacant Residential Sewer Accounts: 168Vacant Commercial Sewer Accounts: 8(Riley Place, Choice Homes)Major Work Activities: Follow up on leak reports generated by flex-net system:

Calling customers, sending out necessary letters, processing meter reports. We continue to help customers set up their profile page, recurring credit card information and e-statements online.

Accomplishments: Working with billing Data Solutions continues to improve our customer service.

Monthly Water Usage billed (gallons): 28,212,872Exported: 407,060Imported: 173,390EWSA Usage: 222,819 Total: 28,202,021

Monthly Sewer Usage billed (gallons): 8,027,035

Note: Graphs on the following page compare total water and sewer usage billed for 2013, 2014, and 2015 as well as the number of disconnects.

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec15,000,000

20,000,000

25,000,000

30,000,000

35,000,000

40,000,000

Water Volume

201320142015

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec4,000,0004,500,0005,000,0005,500,0006,000,0006,500,0007,000,0007,500,0008,000,0008,500,0009,000,000

Sewer Volume

201320142015

NOV 14 DEC 14 JAN 15 FEB15 MAR15 APR 15 MAY 15 JUN 15 JUL 15 AUG 15 SEP 15 OCT 15 NOV 15100300500700900

1100130015001700190021002300250027002900

Payments

Payments made online on our website

Credit card payments made in the office

Credit card payments made thru our phone system

Payments made online thru the customers bank/lockbox

Mailed in payments

Payments made at the local banks

Financial Department

December 2015

Department Description: The Financial Department is a partner with all of the Authority's departments in providing administrative services, financial services, and human resource services in a timely and efficient manner to the benefit of all.

Update Provided By: Rosalind Chambers, Finance Manager

Human Resources: Employee topic(s):

Employment Anniversaries: Hank Bottoms 2 yrs;

Major Work Activities: Preparing files and reports for the yearend audit process; Prepared cleaning schedule for 1st half of year; Finished up annual performance evaluations; updated bank confirmation list; added new vendors on approved vendor list; annual COBRA update; Opened new MM Account at UCB; order and upgraded two phone lines; updated water audit spreadsheet; gathered insurance information for an employee on Medicare; scanned in items from pending file into laserfiche; Worked on budget items for yearend; Balanced yearend accounts; Brenda continued helping Doris with leak reports; Set up goals for 2016; updated certificate of insurance list for new year; Entered 2016 budget into accounting and transferred over open projects

Accomplishments: Our department was able to gather all information requested for auditors to begin the audit process.

Community Service: Attended ½ day planning meeting for Foothills SHRM and processed financials; attended board meeting for Veterans and processed financials; Reviewed 1 CAFR for the GFOA Special Review Committee;

Special Recognition: Thanks to Patty Day and Michelle Everett for gathering information and updating reports for the audit process.

Financials: Financials will be available at a later date.

Operations DepartmentDecember 2015

Department Description: The Operations Group is responsible for maintaining the water distribution and wastewater collections systems. This include 174.78 miles of water line, six water storage tanks, and four booster pump stations for the water system; and 22.58 miles of sewer line, 575 manholes, and 13 sewerage lift stations for the wastewater system. The Operations Group is on call 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.

Update Provided By: Kenneth Pearson, Operations Manager

Work Orders completed during Month: Etowah-283, Townley-32

Total completed this Year: Etowah-3091, Townley-572

Locates responded to this month: 558

Locates responded to this year: 5315

Major Work Activities: Continued to swap negative consumption meters as requested by Kendall Supply. Sensus will be changing 500+ meters for us that they have found issues with. We will be meeting with them on December 8th to get this project under way.

We have had a lot of rain this month. Even so, we have been installing meters that we have sold.

Met with Utility Services Associates to discuss changing

of the meters for Sensus.

Accomplishments: Completed changing the 77 meters for Sensus.

Special Recognition: We would like to thank all of the Operations crew for their continued hard work!

Lance Disharoon changing a fire hydrant that had been damaged.

Maintenance DepartmentDecember 2015

Department Description: The Maintenance Department is responsible for maintaining six water storage tanks and four booster pump stations for the water system; and 12 sewerage lift stations for the wastewater system. The department performs all repairs and maintenance at Dawson Forest Water Reclamation Facility, Hightower Water Treatment Facility. The Maintenance Department has two full time employees and one seasonal part time employee during spring and summer. In the spring and summer the department is also responsible for all landscaping needs of all of the Authority’s properties. The Maintenance Department is on call 24 hours a day to respond to emergencies.

Update Provided By: Dolly Pendley, Treatment Systems ManagerJosh Wilkins, Maintenance Lead Technician

Work Orders Completed during Month: Etowah – 14 Townley – 1

Total Work Orders Completed for Year: Etowah – 171 Townley – 17

Major Work Activities:

Hightower Water Treatment Facility: Replaced relay in the VFD for settled water pump # 202 Changed oil in all equipment Monthly Pm’s were performed

Dawson Forest Water Reclamation Facility: Replace belts on basin blower # 302 Replaced belts on Digester blowers Changed oil in all equipment Mowed spray fields Monthly pm’s were performed

Sewerage Lift Stations:

Took McDonalds lift station out of service (Gravity now) Relocated the World-wide lift station force-main (temporarily) Weekly Pm’s were performed

Booster Stations and Storage Tanks:

Auraria tank altitude valve pilot was replaced Chlorine pump was took out of service @ Burt Creek booster station Monthly pm’s were performed

These are the digester blowers that the oil was changed in, and the belts were replaced.

Hightower Water Treatment Facility

December 2015

Department Description: The Hightower Water Treatment Facility is responsible for withdrawing, treating and providing the highest quality water service to the citizens of Dawson County. This facility has a capacity to treat 5.5 million gallons of water per day. Six Operators staff the facility 24 hours a day year ‘round. Staff conducts over one hundred tests each day to ensure we provide the highest quality drinking water to our customers.

Update Provided By: Dolly Pendley, Treatment Systems ManagerMichael Silvers, Lead Operator

Major Work Activities: Prepared and submitted all monthly reports to EPD. Treated pond with copper sulfate. Collected and analyzed 15 Distribution Bac-T Samples.

All tested negative for Total Coliform. Due to the large volume of rain Christmas Eve a lot of

debris was in the river making withdrawal capability troublesome. Contractor was called upon to help solve Raw Water Intake issue Christmas Day Night.

Work continues in the Pipe Gallery on Filters 1-4. Removing all unnecessary equipment, piping, and electrical lines.

Jan-15 Feb-15 Mar-15Apr-15May-15 Jun-15 Jul-15 Aug-15 Sep-15 Oct-15 Nov-15 Dec-150.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

2012201320142015

Monthly volume of water pumped to system(Millions of gallons)

Dawson Forest Water Reclamation Facility

December 2015

Department Description: The Dawson Forest Water Reclamation Facility (DFWRF) is responsible for treating wastewater for the businesses and citizens of Dawson County. The award winning facility is capable of treating up to 1 million gallons of wastewater per day. Our employees have a thorough knowledge of all federal, state, and local wastewater treatment standards, regulations, and policies. Their technical skills extend from the ability to operate and maintain the wide variety of equipment used to performing standard chemical tests. The reclamation facility has three full time employees who oversee all plant operations, monitor the treatment processes, and make adjustments as needed to consistently produce high quality reclaimed water. The DFWRF won the Georgia Association of Water Professionals Plant of the Year Award in 2009; the Gold Award for Wastewater Treatment in 2009, 2010, and 2011, as well as the 2012 and 2013 Platinum Award for Wastewater Treatment. 

 

Update Provided By: Dolly Pendley, Treatment Systems Manager

Richard Ray, Lead Operator

Major Work Activities: Prepared and submitted monthly reports to EPD. Did all daily and monthly lab tests. Pressed sludge from Polo Fields plant. Cleaned all buildings weekly. Checked grease traps. Replaced 2 bearings on belt press. Unclogged pump in blend tank. Cut up trees that had fallen on sprayfields. Helped maint. Dept install digester blower and motor. Pressure washed press room.

Press Room

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

2012201320142015

Average Monthly Flows

Millions of Gallons

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec0

2

4

6

8

10

12

2012201320142015

Rainfall in Inches

Resource Department

December 2015

Department Description: The Resource Department’s main purpose is to direct and oversee the long term planning of water and wastewater resources. Plans, directs, and organizes activities relating to water and wastewater resources. In the pre-construction stage of projects, manages the day to day operational aspects of a project and scope. Plans, develops, and coordinates public relations mediums ensuring timely distribution of public information to the public, media, and other government agencies.

Update Provided By: Doris Cook, Resource Manager

Major Work Activities for December 2015:

Worked with Authority staff on inquiries for water service/main extensions, answered phones, ordered meters, articles and activities planning for remainder of 2015 and other tasks as needed.

Continued to work on the Customer Connect Portal. Assisted with planning of 2016 Authority events and

activities. Resolved Logic program issues through Kendall and

Sensus. Continued to review files and documents for

Laserfiche/records retention and library. Cleaned out desk, reorganized files Reviewed and revised standard operating procedures

(SOP’s). Outlined Goals for 2016 and completed evaluation. Research for Backflow Program. Reviewed permits for both treatment plants, checked to

make sure the water plant’s NPDES permit was processed and on its way.

Project Management on a daily/weekly basis: o Russell Creek Reservoir Project – see attachedo Leak Detection & Notification Program-daily/weekly

tasks. o 1,003 accounts on leak report, 132 not a leak/non

hourly usageo 12 confirmed by phone, 363 have not

responded/not repaired, 48 on recheck listo 25 leak notices mailed, 10 with no phone # or not

in service, 2 customers emailed, 5 work orders to ck or replace meter

Accomplishments: Employee Christmas Luncheon,

Community Service: Personal donations to RicRac

Etowah River 7Q10 Flow:Current flow: 1,720 cfs (cubic feet per second) on 12/29/2015Minimum/low flow in past 12 years occurred in 2011= 116 cfsMaximum flow in past 12 years occurred in 2014= 539 cfs

Lake Lanier: 1,073.58 feet – summer pool is 1071, flood is 1085 – 12/29/15

Russell Creek Reservoir

Project Description: This project is in the post-filing stages of permitting for the 401 Permit with the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) and the 404 Permit with the United States Army Corp of Engineers (USACE). A mitigation plan has been submitted. Proposed reservoir is 138 acres of pool and 90 acres in buffer. Engineers have estimated the reservoir to hold 14.7 million gallons based on yield analysis modeling.

Engineer: Etowah Water & Sewer Authority (EWSA) and GSP, Inc. are assisting with the post-filing.

Original Contract Amounts: $ 401,440.00 (For pre and post filing tasks)Change-orders: $ 80,100.00 (For additional funding – pre & post tasks)

$ 71,130.00 (For additional State & Federal post filing tasks)$ 21,770.00 (Cumulative Impacts Study) approved May 14, 2013

$ 24,720.00 (Yield Analysis – Task Order # 2)$ 20,000.00 (3rd round of modeling/Cumulative Impacts Study)

$ 52, 100.00 (Post filing tasks – final case document, mitigation)

Additional Tasks: $ 4,154,200.00 (Mitigation)

$ 5,219,860.00 (Land acquisition and easements)$ 10,000,000.00 GEFA Funding for design and construction

Duration of Services: Project began in 2003, design and construction is expected to begin within next five to ten years.

Project Complete: TBD (post-filing of State & Federal permits–Dec 15, 2015)

Project Manager: Doris Cook, EWSA

Project Status: This post permitting phase of the project is almost complete.

Continue waiting on the permits! Communications, via emails and phone calls, with EPD and COE continue this month. Completing some additional pieces of land acquisition.

Community Concerns: This project is required to meet the future water supply needs for Dawson County in 2063. The community, including State and Federal Agencies and

most environmental groups are in consensus and support this project. No negative concerns. It is being considered as a “role model” for reservoir projects.

Engineering & Construction Department

December 2015

Department Description: The Engineering and Construction Department oversees all engineering and construction activities for Etowah Water and Sewer Authority. We, as a dedicated team, assure that water and sanitary sewer extensions are designed and constructed according to our Water Main and Sanitary Sewer Standard Specifications. We work with developers, design engineers, and utility contractors on public and private community development projects during project conception, design, plan review, construction, inspections, and final acceptance. We design projects in-house, work with consulting engineers, and other departments on capital improvement projects from project conception to final completion and acceptance.

Update Provided By: Tim Collins, Assistant General Manager along withJohn Cronan, Systems Coordinator

Major Work Activities: Managing Water Storage Tanks Maintenance Program:

Coordinating Contractor and EWSA Departments to maintain 2015 work schedule.

SR 400 @ 53 Improvements: Completed gravity sewer installation up to the Chevron gas station.

Old Lift Station at Chevron Now Out of Service

Private Development Update

General Information: Plans in Review – 1 Current Permitted Developments - 6 Permitted Developments in 2015 - 5 Developments Completed and Accepted in 2015 - 1

Plans in Review

Site of proposed Dawson Marketplace on Gordon Moss RoadDawson Marketplace is a grocery store anchored retail center and outparcels. The land disturbance permit has been conditionally approved and the utility plans are pending resubmittal for minor revisions.

Utility Construction

1) Club House Site

The project will consist of two tennis courts, a pool and pool house. The water installation will include a hydrant setting along with a ¾” water meter and backflow prevention device. The sewer installation will be a tap only.

Water: The water work consists of installing one new fire hydrant and one 3/4” water meter and backflow prevention device.

Sewer: The sewer work will consist of a single sewer tap for the pool house at the sewer tap provided at the back of the lot.

Status as of November 30, 2015: Construction on the club house continues.

2) Farmington Creek

This project will consist of a 55 unit apartment complex with a club house/amenities building.

Water: The water line installation will consist of a 1,300’ 8” DIP extension inside the development to provide service to the individual units and 600’ 12” DIP relocation along Hwy. 53 at the entrance.

Sewer: The sewer line installation will consist of 1,200’ of 8” DIP gravity sewer main to provide service to the development.

Status as of November 30, 2015: The work is complete. Finishing touches ongoing in anticipation of tenants

moving in mid-December.

3) Dawson Crossroads Development

The development is a grocery store anchored retail center with approximately 90,000 sq. ft. of planned retail space and 5 outparcels for future development.

Water: The water line installation will consist of approximately 2,400 lf of new 12 inch DIP water main along with hydrants, valves, meters, fire protection, etc.

Sewer: The sewer line installation will consist of approximately 1,700 lf of new 8 inch and 12 inch PVC and DIP gravity sewer mains along with manholes, service laterals, etc. There will also be an installation of approximately 1,100 lf of 12 inch DIP force main to relocate the existing force main along Dawson Forest Road.

Status as of November 30, 2015: Site grading and preparation continues.

4) Identico – Lot 10, HN Grogan Business Park

Identico is approximately 30,000 sq. ft. of industrial/manufacturing space with office space. They will be producing adhesvie packaging labels.

Water: The water installation will consist of installing a 6” fire vault with a backflow device for the internal fire sprinkler system. A ¾” water meter will be installed in the existing meter box on the lot.

Sewer: The sewer installation will consist of installing a test manhole outside the building and tying the service line into the existing clean out on the lot.

Status as of November 30, 2015: Site preparation has started.

5) Culver’s

Culver’s is a fast food restaurant that serves Wisconsin style burgers and custard. They will have 92 dining seats.

Water: The water installation consists of a 1” water meter setting only.

Sewer: The sewer installation will consist of a grease trap installation and tying into the existing manhole on the corner of the lot.

Status as of November 30, 2015: Framing on the building has started.

SR 400 @ SR 53 Utilities Relocation

Project Description: The continuous flow intersection improvements that DOT will be building at Hwy. 400 and 53 will require EWSA to relocate the 8” PVC and DIP water main along Hwy. 53 starting at Lumpkin Campground Road and terminating on the east side of Hughes Court. The new water main installation will consist of approximately 3180 LF of 16-inch DIP, 1560 LF of 12-inch DIP, 2600 LF of 8-inch DIP and 100 LF of 6-inch DIP. This project will also allow us to take three lift stations and several hundred feet of PVC force main out of service by installing new gravity sewer mains in the southeast quadrant of Hwy. 400 and 53. The gravity sewer installation will consist of approximately 1370 LF of 8-inch PVC and 270 LF of 8-inch DIP. This project will include all necessary accessories, service relocates and changeovers, traffic control and erosion and sedimentation control as required.

Original Contract Amount: $1,282,265.00Change Orders: Adjusted Contract Amount: Contract Duration: 183 days Notice to Proceed: March 23, 2015Contracted Completion: November 23, 2015Contractor: Townley Construction Company, Inc.Engineer: Etowah Water & Sewer AuthorityProject Manager: John Cronan

Project Status: Gravity sewer construction continues. Manholes S4 & S5 have been set. McDonald’s, UCB and Chevron are all tied onto the new gravity line and the two lift stations formerly serving these business are no longer in service.

Community Concerns: This project will allow EWSA to comply with DOT’s requirements to relocate utilities in conflict with highway construction and improvements. The increased water main size and improved material will be beneficial to the distribution system and customers in this area. The new gravity sewer mains will be beneficial to the collection system by allowing us to take three aging lift stations and force mains out of service.

New Gravity Service Line for the Chevron Gas Station