04-25-12 Special Called Planning and Zoning

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Wastewater Summary As displayed in Map 3.3, tĂƐƚĞǁĂƚĞƌ^ǇƐƚĞŵ, the City maintains an extensive system of 36 lifts stations (including the lift station serving the Sylvan Beach Pavilion that is currently inactive) and 187 miles of force mains 12 and gravity sewers. The City also operates the Little Cedar Bayou th Little Cedar Bayou WWTP Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) located on South 4 Street at Cedar Bayou, which has a permitted capacity of 7.56 million gallons per day (mgd) by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The existing wastewater treatment plant was designed in 1980 and put in service in 1982. The plant was expanded in 1986 and again in 2010. These expansions allow the City to treat approximately 21.8 mgd for a peak two hour period (usually during large storm events). At present, the City treats an average 4.23.2 mgd (calculated as an Source: City of La Porte Website, Department of average daily flow for a consecutive three-month period2006-2010), Public Works. which puts the plant at about 55 42 percent of its permitted capacity . With the latest round of 13 improvements, -out population. In addition, the City also still contracts with the Gulf Coast Regional WaterWaste Disposal Authority (GCWDA) for 0.5 mgd of capacityat a negotiated fee, currently $0.20 per 1,000 gallons, for up to 0.5 mgd. Post treatment, the majority of the water is released into the Little Cedar Bayou. However, during certain times of the year, particularly Texas Commission on summer, the City utilizes a maximum of 600,000 gallons per day (gpd) Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to irrigate the Bay Forest Golf Course and the soccer fields at Little regulations require that a wastewater permittee commence Cedar Bayou Park. engineering design and financial planning for expansion when a The City has been proactively monitoring and replacing aging plant reaches 75 percent of infrastructure. Currently, the City has budgeted approximately permitted average daily flow for a $350,000 per year to reduce inflow and infiltration (I/I) problems in consecuteive three-month period. the wastewater collection system. Over time, pipes, valves, and This rule further requires that the manholes start to deteriorate consequently, allowing the inflow and permittee gain regulatory approval infiltration of stormwater/groundwater into the wastewater collection and begin construction of system. This increases the volume of wastewater that has tomust be expanded facilities when a plant treated by the WWTP. The additional volume also increases the wear reaches 90 percent of the and tear on plant infrastructure and can prematurely cause the City to permitted average daily flow for a unnecessarily expend funds on plant capacity increases. The City has consecutive three-month period. also been proactive in replacing, consolidating, or eliminating its lift Source: TCEQ. stations. As late as 2008, the City had 40 lift stations; today 36. In 2003, the City commissioned a lift station evaluation study to determine the highest priority projects. By 2008, four out of five of those 12 City of La Porte Website. Retrieved on 10/12/11. 13 Interview with the City of La Porte Public Works Director. 3.9 Infrastructure and growth capacity 2.ş Adopted July 20, 2009