Lawless, Mike, City of Lawrence, KS, Integrated Planning-City of Lawrence Case Study, 2015 MECC-KC

Integrated PlanningCity of Lawrence Case Study

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Midwest Environmental Compliance Conference May 13, 2015

Track Two - Municipal/Higher Education

Mike Lawless – City of Lawrence

Lawrence Utilities• Provides water and separate sanitary sewer services for a population of

94,000 over 29 square miles• Employees 110 staff• Budget is $45 million• 5 year capital plan of $161 million• Operates two surface water treatment plants• Operates one 12.5 MGD nitrifying sewer plant that includes a 40+ MGD

Enhanced High Rate Clarification (AKA ballasted flocculation) process for treatment during wet weather conditions

• Combined rated peak sewer treatment capacity is 65 MGD• System model indicates 10 year max rain event peak flow is > 80 MGD• Sewer system has 450 miles of pipe, 32 lift stations, and 10,500

manholes

Lawrence Utilities• Provides water and separate sanitary sewer services for a population of

94,000 over 29 square miles• Employees 110 staff• Budget is $45 million• 5 year capital plan of $161 million• Operates two surface water treatment plants• Operates one 12.5 MGD nitrifying sewer plant that includes a 40+ MGD

Enhanced High Rate Clarification (AKA ballasted flocculation) process for treatment during wet weather conditions

• Combined rated peak sewer treatment capacity is 65 MGD• System model indicates 10 year max rain event peak flow is > 80 MGD• Sewer system has 450 miles of pipe, 32 lift stations, and 10,500

manholes

Integrated Planning Timeline for Lawrence

• Oct. 2010 - Integrated Planning Framework initially proposed by EPA

• Feb. 2012 - Lawrence attends an Integrated Planning Workshop at EPA Region 7

• Jan. 2014 - City and KDHE sign MOU agreeing to elements of an Integrated Plan

framework and using Master Plan as a planning backbone

• Aug. 2014 - Kaw WWTP Permit is issued with Integrated Planning

approach5

Elements of an Integrated Plan

• A description of the water quality, human health, and regulatory issues to be addressed by the plan;

• A description of the existing wastewater and stormwater systems & summary describing system performance;

• A process for involving the community;

• A process for identifying/evaluating/selecting technologies, improvement projects, and asset management systems;

• A process for measuring performance; and

• Improvements to the plan6

Timing Was Right

• Just completed Master Plan– Had most of the 6 Elements– Supplemented Master Plan with CIP and Revenue

Requirements Report

• Kaw WWTP NPDES permit administratively extended– Lawrence wanted permit issued

• 8th Circuit Court Ruling– Iowa League of Cities vs. EPA

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City of Lawrence Department of Utilities

• No Voluntary Integrated Plan had been Proposed

• Buy-In from City Manager– NPDES Permit– Master Plan– 5-Year Capital Improvement Program – CM had Buy-In from City Commission

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Timing Was Right

Multiple Benefits

• EPA– IP was a hot topic– 8th Circuit Court ruling

• KDHE– Embraced IP concept– Supportive of Lawrence NPDES Permit

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Multiple Benefits

• Utilities Department– Help EPA with first voluntary IP– Help KDHE accomplish a goal– Capital Improvement Program approval in the future– Spend funds on physical improvements and not on

legal fees or studies to support a position or argument

BUT…….

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City Requirements for IP

• No enforcement actions

• Must have a way out

• Must be flexible

• Minimal additional workload

• Storm Sewer– Not in the purview of the Utilities Department – Future addition to IP?

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Outcome

2014 - Nation’s 1st Integrated Plan within a NPDES permit w/o formal enforcement action

Contact Info

Mike Lawless, PECity of Lawrence

6 E. 6th StreetLawrence, KS 66044

785.832.7862

[email protected]

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