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Attaching metal studding along the west roof line for the BAF ammonia treatment facilities
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Monthly report—September 2003
Start-up of ammonia treatment
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During September, contractors continued to make
progress on construction of the new ammonia/phosphorus
removal facilities at Metro and began transitioning to
the start-up phase of the BAF project. Start-up
activities were completed in the following areas
related to the BAF (ammonia removal facilities):
compressed air system, three backwash waste pumps, and
eight Hoffman Blower units. Other systems receiving
some start-up activities included the PLC blower
controls, butterfly valves, device net, and cell air
grids.
Structural and mechanical work also continued
on the HRFS facility and construction of the
foundations and structural steel work began on the
Chemical Building and Operations Center. By the end of
August, about 97% of the total structural concrete for
the entire complex had been installed totaling 25,584
cubic yards.
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Displayed Urban Best Management Practices
educational materials available to schools and
teachers at the Central New York chapter meeting of
the Science Teachers' Association held at the SUNY
College of Environmental Science and Forestry. The
UBMP program is managed by the County and funded through
the Onondaga Lake Partnership.
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Displayed and distributed information about the
Urban Best Management Practices program at a meeting
of local officials on September 10 sponsored by the
Central New York Regional Planning and Development
Board on municipal storm water regulations and
available public education and public involvement
programs.
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Prepared for and took part in Legislative Budget
Review. Department of Water Environment Protection and
LIPO budgets were reviewed on September 16th.
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Semi-annual meeting of County's Technical Lake
Advisors was held on September 9 and 10.
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Pouring the slab-on-deck for the HRFS facilities. Note conduit and sleeves in place.
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(ACJ Completion date for ammonia full-scale—11/3/03—schedule revision requested)
(ACJ Completion date for phosphorus removal Stage II—4/1/05—on schedule)
Summary of structural work to date on major component facilities
BAF structure (ammonia removal).
This month a total of 44 cubic yards of concrete was
placed in the upper level of the BAF complex. All
concrete work is now substantially complete.
HRFS facility (phosphorus removal).
In September, structural work continued with a total
of 357 cubic yards of concrete installed. All
structural concrete work is now substantially
complete.
UV disinfection facility.
The contractor completed the brick veneer work and
installation of the precast roof planks.
Secondary effluent pump station and chemical gallery.
All structural work at this facility is now
substantially complete.
Chemical/operation building.
In September, 107 cubic yards of concrete was poured
on the remainder of the grade beams for this facility.
Installation began on the structural steel framework.
Summary of mechanical work
BAF facility.
Start-up activities began this month on the BAF
facilities. All eight Hoffman Blowers were
successfully tested between September 8-15.
Other component parts were also checked out as
part of start-up activities with USFilter/Krüger
personnel present.
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Installing drain lines at the UV building
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Burns Brothers has substantially completed the
installation and insulation of the roof drains and
Edward Joy has installed the roof ventilator fans. JW
Danforth continues installation of the air grids in
the north BAF and all but 5 cells have been completed.
HRFS facility.
Mechanical work continued this month with the
installation of the lamella support bracket in tank
#3. Edward Joy has installed about 50% of the heat
loop and unit heaters in the galleries so that heat
will be available for start-up of the BAF facility and
UV structure.
Secondary effluent pump station.
Essentially the mechanical work in the secondary
effluent pump station is complete.
Final electrical and architectural work remain.
Architectural work
BAF facility.
Work on the spray-on insulation is now substantially
complete. The contractor has installed most aluminum
support framing for the architectural panels and the
BAF roofing is substantially completed.
Other structures.
Brick veneer work is substantially complete on the UV
structure. The contractor has substantially completed
interior painting in the secondary effluent pump
station and painting of the walls and ceiling in the
low lift pump station boiler room and stairwell is
complete as well.
Meetings are held on various aspects of the
construction on a regular basis with biweekly
progress, start-up and construction progress and
weekly meetings of contract superintendents for
coordination and periodic meetings with equipment
supplier, USFilter/Krüger, involving County staff,
engineering and construction management contractors
and USFilter/Krüger personnel.
This is the largest and most costly single project in
the Amended Consent Judgment program and will have the
greatest positive impacts on the water quality of
Onondaga Lake by removing more ammonia and phosphorus
from the Metro effluent discharge.
 See more construction photos.
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West Brighton Avenue at South Avenue, newly paved and painted (Aug 2003)
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(ACJ Project milestone—January 1, 2012—Project ahead of schedule)
Pipe installation and restoration work completed.
The contractor has completed all necessary site
restoration work including street paving, sidewalks
and seeding and planting of grass buffer strip between
the street and sidewalk. A total of 2,864 feet of
mainline sewer in the roads was installed in the
project along with 1,760.5 feet of lateral sewers to
houses, 39 feet of new copper water service and 15 new
manholes and 12 new catch basins hoods.
Brighton Avenue was resurfaced and reopened in time for
the start of school buses at the end of August. During
September, a repair was made to a former combined line
(now used for storm water only) which necessitated a
street cut and resurfacing in one area on Marguerite
Avenue.
This sewer separation project involved about 8 blocks
on the City's south side and about 100 homes.
Work included installation of a new mainline sewer and
conversion of existing combined lines to use for
storm water only. Lead water services encountered
during sewer construction were replaced in the right-of-way
by the County to reduce extent of lead
services. With the project completed, two former
combined sewer overflows (numbers 053 and 054) no longer
release combined untreated sewage and storm water to
Onondaga Creek when it rains. The overflows now only
release storm water. All wastewater goes to Metro for
treatment.
(ACJ completion date—Phase II RTF—5/01/04 & Phase III Conveyance—5/01/07)
City's decision to appeal federal ruling threatens
further delays.
The City's appeal will not be heard in the Circuit
Court of Appeals until some time this fall. Despite
this decision by the City, the County is proceeding
with necessary testing on the properties acquired and
moving ahead on acquiring necessary private
properties. Testing is conducted to help assess
properties prior to demolition and gather necessary
subsurface information needed for finalizing design.
Work continues on 95-100% design documents for next
phase of construction.
Work continues on the 100% design documents. Meetings
were held this month concerning comments on draft
design documents with the County, revised conveyance
alignment at Midland and Blaine intersection,
geotechnical issues on Phase II construction,
telemetry and flow monitoring requirements for the
Phase II RTF, and water line relocations.
A supplemental ground water pump test was completed at
the Blaine/Oxford site, and the Geotechnical Data
Report containing the results of the supplemental
geotechnical investigation was submitted to the County
by the design engineer.
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Click on image for enlarged map with locations of the overflow elimination plan.
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Design documents received by County.
Design documents were finalized and forwarded to the
County for the additional ten areas in the City of
Syracuse proposed for sewer separation under the ACJ.
Funding for this design effort was through the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers. Design documents for the Brighton
Avenue and the Water Street projects were completed
under this contract and finalized earlier so that
projects could be moved along into construction. Water
Street and the Brighton Avenue projects are now complete.
The next CSOs slated for sewer separation are #038 and
040 in the Tallman/Midland area and #046A near
Onondaga Street.
RFP for engineering services on next separation projects.
A notice of award was sent this month to Spectra
Engineering for this work. Currently in process of
finalization of contract with County.
(ACJ dates—Commence construction of conveyances and RTF—May 1, 2003—milestone revision requested.)
The following work activities were accomplished this
month:
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Draft Phase II/III archeological work plan
transmitted to the County for review on September 25.
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Continued development of Environmental Information
Document and SEQR related information.
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Draft Phase I Environmental Assessment for Clinton
Station site transmitted to County for review on
September 8th.
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Continued conceptual design development and
coordinated with sewer system modeling consultant,
Brown and Caldwell, on modeling related to
alternatives analysis and optimization studies.
The goal of the Clinton project is to address the
abatement of ten CSOs between Fayette and Adams
Streets to be served by a Clinton area facility
located near downtown Syracuse. The Clinton CSO Abatement Facility Plan (March 2002 draft)
evaluates alternative technologies to address the
overflows and alternative sites for a
storage/treatment facility.
(ACJ completion date for In-Water system—7/1/02—not implementable—milestone revision requested)
This month, the County worked with the project
consultant, Brown and Caldwell to develop a
comprehensive list of project tasks to be completed to
finalize the Facility Plan for this project and a
schedule for completion. Contract amendment in
development and finalization.
The draft Harbor Brook CSO Abatement Facilities Plan was released in
March 2002. The draft plan outlines and evaluates
alternative technologies including the in-water system
for abating and treating the 18 CSOs which release
into Harbor Brook. This draft plan also identifies
potential sites for CSO abatement facilities.
During 2003, the County will continue to proceed with
public participation activities with interested
residents and organizations in the Harbor Brook area
and hopes to finalize the Facility Plan with a
recommended alternative and necessary environmental
review by the end of 2003.
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Scene from UBMP video urging residents to keep motor oil out of the city's sewers.
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The new 30-second public service announcement
encouraging the public to reduce street debris and
litter aired on local television stations during
August and arrangements were made this month for more
airings in October. Good responses have been received
from viewers. Funding for the project was secured
through the Onondaga Lake Partnership from the Corps
of Engineers and matched with County funds.
Click here to view the video.
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Skimmer boat in operation (2002)
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Collection activities continued on a once-a-week basis
during September. Over 9 tons of trash has been
collected to date this year by the skimmer operation.
A post-bid meeting was held on July 7 with the
apparent low bidder and a notice-of-intent-to-award
was sent to Alpha Boats concerning the 5-year contract
to provide maintenance and collection services in the
harbor area. A meeting was held with Alpha Boats on
September 4th to discuss details of contract
finalization. Contract to be finalized.
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New educational materials produced by the County with OLP support were displayed for science teachers.
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The County continues to have representatives attend
and participate in the monthly meetings of the three
subcommittees of the Partnership—Resource, Project
and Outreach and the Executive Committee.
The year 2002 was important in the Amended Consent Judgment program because
ten CSO-related projects met their major milestone
completion date of July 1, 2002 (ACJ, Appendix B pages
10-12). Some of these interim projects were completed
well ahead of the major milestone dates, and all but
two met the major milestone. The Kirkpatrick
Street Pump Station and the Harbor Brook In-water
System required milestone extensions. New York State is
reviewing the County's requests for the extensions.
The projects are listed below by date completed:
(ACJ Project milestone—January 1, 2012—Project completed 2003)
Pipe installation and restoration work was completed.
Under this $2.1 million project, 2,864 feet of
mainline sewer was installed in the streets along with
a total of 1,760.5 feet of lateral sewers to
eighty-four houses, thirty-nine new copper water
service lines in the right-of-way, fifteen new
manholes, and twelve new catch basins hoods. The
project was completed on time and under budget.
This sewer separation project involved about eight
blocks on the City's south side. Work included
installation of a new mainline sewer and conversion of
existing combined lines to use for stormwater only.
The County replaced lead water services encountered
during sewer construction to reduce lead services.
With the project completed, two former combined sewer
overflows (053 and 054) no longer release combined
untreated sewage and stormwater to Onondaga Creek when it
rains. The overflows now only release stormwater. All
wastewater from these areas goes to Metro for
treatment.
Under Appendix A of the ACJ, certain improvement
projects at Metro were designated as interim projects
and given a major milestone date for completion of
July 1, 2002. All six projects were completed by the
milestone date and most well ahead of schedule. The
projects are listed below by date completed:
Tributary, lake, river, fish sampling
No report this month.
Executive summary annual report distributed
The Technical Lake Advisors meeting was held September
9 and 10. Plans underway for participation in Lake
Partnership's Fisheries Roundtable on October 25.
Letters were received in August from the State DEC
giving approval to the following: the County's
2001 Annual Report on the Ambient Monitoring Program,
the County's 2002 Annual Report on the Ambient
Monitoring Program and the County's proposed 2003
Ambient Monitoring program which began April 1, 2003.
Click here for the executive summary of the 2002 annual report.
None to report.
Full-scale ammonia/phosphorus removal
Contract with CME Associates amended for additional testing.
Contract amendment amount: $60,000. Executed 9/4/03.
Midland Avenue conveyances & RTF
Contract with Environmental Engineering Associates
(EEA) amended to include the physical hydraulic model
study.
Contract amendment amount: $694,332. Executed
9/4/03.
Contract with Allied American Abstract amended for
additional title abstracts.
Contract amendment amount: $7,500. Executed 9/18/03.
Full-scale ammonia/phosphorus removal
Contract with Pike Construction amended for
installation of mechanical slide gates.
Total change order amount: $429,975. Executed 9/11/03.
Action items of the County Legislature in the month of September:
No items presented.
Upcoming for October Legislative session:
Authorizing the acquisition of property for the
construction, operation, and maintenance of Phase II of
the Midland Avenue conveyances & RTF project.
Upcoming for October committee session:
Amending the 2003 County budget to accept funds from
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation for environmental
remediation on the ammonia/phosphorus removal project.
Request additional funding for Inner Harbor skimmer
operation to complete ’03 season through November.
State Bond Act funds
Payments received this month from State Bond Act funds:
Midland Avenue conveyances & RTF—Request #23 for
$53,296.58 received on 9/12/03 for aggregate of
$2,893.993.45.
Total received to date in State Bond Act funds—$46,921,688.
Federal EPA funds:
Payments received this month from Federal EPA
funds:
None to report.
Total received to date in Federal EPA funds—$37,923,376.
Federal Army Corps of Engineers funds:
Sewer separation—Request #5 for $437,879.78
received on 9/18/03 for aggregate of $1,383.328.
UBMP—Request #6 for $17,974.18 received on
9/18/03 for aggregate of $66,535.07
Total received to date from U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers funds—$5,490,428.
The following reimbursement payments were received
from EFC during the month of September:
Full-scale ammonia/phosphorus removal—Request #15
for $1,950,577.398 received on 9/30/03 for aggregate
of $91,195,654.62.
Total reimbursement monies received to date through
EFC Loans for the funded ACJ projects: $127,264,854
(short term), $8,678,670 (long term).
—Metro photos by Joe Lorah
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Susan Miller, Project Deputy Director
Onondaga County Dept of Water Environment Protection