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Durion drain lines installed in chemical building
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Monthly report—October 2003
99% of Metro concrete in place
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During October, contractors continued to make
progress on construction of the new ammonia/phosphorus
removal facilities at Metro and continued to work
toward start-up of the BAF (ammonia removal) project.
By the end of the month, the ammonia removal facility
(BAF) was ready to receive installation of the
filtration media. This will be done by a media
installer under subcontract with the equipment
supplier, USFilter/Krüger. The installer is scheduled
to be on site at the beginning of November.
In related work, construction activities continued on
the phosphorus removal facility (HRFS) and the
Operations building.
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By the end of October, about 99% of the total
structural concrete for the entire Ammonia/Phosphorus
Removal/Disinfection Facilities complex had been
installed totaling 26,377 cubic yards.
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County Executive Pirro and Mayor Driscoll announce the launch of the 2003 Onondaga County Leaf Bag program at Hazard Branch Library.
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The Urban Best Management Practices Project
continued to be progressed by the County with funding
from the US Army Corps of Engineers through the
Onondaga Lake Partnership. This month, public service
announcements were aired again on local television
stations and the County Executive and the Mayor kicked
off the second year of the free leaf bag program on
October 21 at the Hazard Branch Library on the City's
west side. 20,000 leaf bags are available this year
through libraries and community centers in the city.
County project staff coordinate and promoted the
effort and delivered bags to all the distribution
points. Ads were also developed and run in local
newspapers encouraging city residents to pick up and
use the free leaf bags to keep the leaves out of the
sewers and reduce sewer overflows.
(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
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Multiple construction activities at HRFS and operations building
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BAF structure (ammonia removal). All structural concrete work is substantially complete.
HRFS facility (phosphorus removal). All structural concrete work is substantially complete.
UV disinfection facility. All structural concrete work is substantially complete.
Secondary effluent pump station. All structural work at this facility is substantially complete.
Chemical/operation building. Structural steel framework for this structure is now
85% complete. All underground mechanical, plumbing and electrical was completed this month.
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Influent channel of the BAF is filled and undergoing testing.
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Summary of mechanical work this month
BAF facility. Start up activities continued this month
on the BAF facilities. Air bubble pattern tests were
performed by US Filter/Krüger personnel on the 12
remaining cells and the company issued formal
acceptance of all 18 air grid assemblies. After a
required 2 hour operational test on each of the 18
cells, the company provided a written certification
that all BAF cells were installed properly and are
ready for installation of the filtration media.
Other mechanical work including installation of roof
drains, wiring for lighting and instrumentation,
installation of condensate piping and BAF cell slide
gates continued and most was completed.
HRFS facility. Edward Joy has installed about 95% of
the heat loop and unit heaters in the galleries so
that heat will be available for startup 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.
UV structure. Ridley Electric began the electrical
work needed in this facility by running conduits and
installing electrical panels.
Architectural work this month
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Grating and railings installed in the north BAF influent channel
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BAF facility. Grating and aluminum handrails are
substantially complete. Installation of the overhead
door and the man doors to the facility were completed
this month. The aluminum support framing for the
architectural panels was also completed this month.
Currently the contractor is installing the bridge
crane and support rails throughout the gallery.
Other structures. Installation of the aluminum support
framing and the architectural panels was completed on
the UV structure. Painting contractor substantially
completed the interior painting in the Secondary Pump
Station and painting of the walls and ceiling in the
Low Lift Pump Station Boiler Room and stairwell is
also completed.
Other information
Work began in October on the installation of the storm
drainage system and is progressing. Meetings are held
on various aspects of the construction on a regular
basis including biweekly start up and construction
progress meetings, weekly coordination meetings with
contract superintendents and periodic meetings with
equipment supplier, USFilter/Krüger, involving
County staff, engineering and construction management
contractors.
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Completing the tie-in of the 24-inch storm drain
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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 from this month.
(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, 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 (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. Number of CSOs discharging untreated sewage
and storm water to Onondaga Creek reduced from 66 to 55
since County's ACJ lake improvement project began in
1998.
(ACJ completion date—Phase II RTF—5/01/04 & Phase III Conveyance—5/01/07)
Meeting with City DPW re: city closure impacts
A meeting was held on October 14th between County
project staff and City DPW officials regarding street
closures that will be necessary due to construction of
the second phase of the Midland project slated to
begin in 2004. Traffic management was discussed and
sequencing of the construction work for the regional
treatment facility and the conveyance lines to the
facility.
Other meetings held
Meetings were also held between County project staff
and others to coordinate activities. A meeting was
held on October 1 with representatives of the Central
New York Regional Transportation Authority regarding
project coordination and site restoration. A meeting
was held on October 8 with officials from Niagara
Mohawk regarding utility service and relocations
during the Phase II Midland project construction.
Groundwater pump testing completed
Ground water pump tests were conducted on September 9-18.
Groundwater sampling and analytical data was
compiled and transmitted to the County on October 30.
Draft 100% design documents for next phase of construction submitted to County
The draft 100% design report was submitted by the
design engineer, EEA, to the County on October 6, 2003
for review.
Continued preparation of the draft Phase II
environmental assessment for phase II of the Midland
project
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 acquiring necessary private properties,
conducting tests of site conditions, and finalizing
design documents for review by the State.
Sewer separation projects moving forward
Two projects designed under the design grant from the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have been completed—the
Water Street Project (closing CSO #024 and converting the
discharge to storm water only) and the Brighton Avenue
Project (closing CSOs #053 and #054 and converting the
discharge to storm water only).
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Click for enlarged map with locations of overflow elimination plan.
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The next CSOs slated for sewer separation are #038 and
040 in the Tallman-Midland area and #046A and #046B
near Onondaga Avenue.
New contract underway to finalize next sewer
separation project. Spectra Engineering has been hired
by the County to review and update the design of the
sewer separation projects slated for CSOs 038, 040,
046A and possibly 046B. The work involves reviewing
and updating existing design documents, preparing bid
ready documents, and handling construction inspection.
A kick off meeting for the new contract was scheduled
for November 6.
(ACJ dates—Commence construction of conveyances and RTF—May 1, 2003—milestone revision requested.)
Activities this month
The following work activities were accomplished this
month:
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Continued to work with County and sub-contractor,
Hartgen Associates, to finalize plans for necessary
phase II/III archeological field reconnaissance work
for the facility site and conveyance routes.
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Continued development of environmental information
document and SEQR-related information.
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Comments received from County and revisions made by
consultant to draft phase I environmental assessment
for Clinton Station site transmitted to County for
review on September 8.
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Continued conceptual design development and
coordination 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 Facilities Plan
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 )
Activities this month
This month, the County continued to work 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 noting that yard waste should be kept out of the street—and sewers
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The new 30-second public service announcement
encouraging the public to reduce street debris and
litter aired again on local television stations during
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.
Collection activities continued on a once a week basis
during October. Over 9 tons of trash has been
collected to date this year by the skimmer operation
which is run by Central New York Aquatic Harvesting
under contract with the County.
A 5-year contract has been signed with Alpha Boats to
provide maintenance and collection services in the
harbor area beginning in 2004 as the result of bids
received this year.
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.
Participated in Lake Partnership's fisheries
roundtable on October 25.
Sewer separation (CSO 038, 40, 46A)
Contract with Spectra Engineering for design on CSOs
038, 040, and 046A.
Contract Amount: $270,489. Executed 10/6/03.
Onondaga Creek FCF (Inner Harbor)
5-year contract with Alpha Boats for cleaning and
removal of floatable debris in the Inner Harbor.
Contract amount: $1332 per clean up.
Executed 10/27/03.
Midland Ave conveyances & RTF
Contract with Environmental Engineering Associates
(EEA) amended for pre-demolition work.
Contract amendment amount: $211,884.
Executed 10/8/03.
Full-scale ammonia/phosphorus removal
Contract with Burns Brothers amended for various
modifications, including installation of additional
roof drain pipes, replacement of water heater and
relocation of sump pit.
Total change order amount:
$11,070.17
Executed 10/7/03.
Action items of the County Legislative in the month
of October:
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Authorizing the acquisition of property for the
construction, operation and maintenance of Phase II of
the Midland Avenue Conveyances & RTF Project.
Upcoming for November Legislative Session:
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Amending the 2003 County Budget in the amount of
$5,850 to complete removal and disposal of CSO derived
floatables from the Syracuse Inner Harbor for the
remainder of the 2003 season.
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Amending the 2003 County Budget to accept funds from
Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation for environmental
remediation on the ammonia/phosphorus project
($6,000,000).
Upcoming for November committee session:
Authorizing the standardization of the Calgon
Phoenix Carbon Adsorption Odor Control system for
systems requiring carbon adsorption elements.
State Bond Act funds
Payments received this month from State Bond
Act funds:
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Midland Avenue conveyances & RTF—Request #24 for
$345,333.03 received on 10/9/03 for aggregate of
$3,407,028.
Total received to date in State Bond Act funds:
$47,434,722.
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. None to
Report.
Total received to date from U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers funds: $5,490,428.
Loans
The following reimbursement payments were
received from EFC during the month of October:
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Full-scale ammonia/phosphorus removal—Request #16
for $4,320,839.75 and Request #17 for $1,022,559.00
both received on 10/13/03 for aggregate of
$43,198,053.37.
Total reimbursement monies received to date through
EFC Loans for the funded ACJ projects: $132,608,252
(short term), $8,790,518 (long term).
—Metro photos by Joe Lorah
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Susan Miller, Project Deputy Director
Onondaga County Dept of Water Environment Protection